Summer Break

Dear Black River Community Members, With summer vacation almost upon us, most students and parents are looking forward to the lazy days of summer. Sleeping in and not having to drive students to school in snowy conditions makes everyone feel a little happier. However, those lazy days of summer have the potential increase substance experimentation and use. Each day in June, July and August, roughly 11,000 youth try alcohol and 4,500 youth try marijuana for the first time. A significant increase over youth who try alcohol or drugs during the school year. It is important to talk with your teen about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and drug use and teach them refusal skills. Attached you will find the Vermont Department of Health’s newly updated ParentUp website http://parentupvt.org/ which is one of the best resources on keeping teens safe and substance free. I invite you to read through it and use it as a platform for a discussion about summer expectations. Please contact me with any questions, Best, Megan Rudy, SAP Counselor Black River MS/HS megan.rudy@trsu.org