Earlier this month, Representative Ron Hicks and I had the opportunity to present Courtesy Resolutions from the Missouri House of Representatives to fourteen Parkway School District seniors who participated in the district’s Safe and Drug-Free Programs (SADF) for all four years of high school.
This unique programming helps students develop the skills they need to make wise decisions about their health and empowers them to be leaders in their school and community.
Through SADF, Parkway high school students reach out to younger students through educational programs and peer-mentoring. In High School Heroes, for example, 100 sophomores are trained to give tobacco and marijuana prevention lessons to sixth graders. TryPOD (Try Putting off Drinking) allows sophomores to learn about alcohol prevention from junior and senior students, and Stars Academy was initiated in 2010 as a drug-free leadership academy for high school freshmen. Other programs cover pertinent issues such as drug prevention, character education, relationships, academics, and more.
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The Alliance for Healthy Communities coordinated the presentation of the resolutions, demonstrating the school and community’s shared goal of encouraging health and substance abuse prevention.
During their four years of service to these programs, these seniors have made a difference in their schools by supporting Parkway’s substance abuse prevention efforts and developing their personal leadership skills. I applaud them for their efforts and dedication and wish them the best as they graduate.