By Hannah Parker
Online News Editor
Manhattan Beach Middle School’s MBMS Families Connected hosted the Special Parent Education Night in the MPR at the middle school on May 17 where parents were informed on drug and alcohol prevention techniques.
Two MBMS students were found on campus intoxicated and under the influence of Marijuana on April 13 and April 20 respectfully. Both students faced suspension and were enrolled in a juvenile diversion program, a alcohol and drug usage prevention program. According to MBMS Principal Jon Jackson, this parent night is not completely related to the incidents however it was prompted by the incidents
“This will be an educational night for parents to try to help them understand what is going on regarding underage underage drug and alcohol usage,” Jackson said. “We hope we can provide the who, what, when, where and why regarding these issues so parents can have a better understanding.”
It’s all educational night and we hope parents and student will learn what is going on regarding underage drug and alcohol usage and we will go from there. We hope parents learn the who what when where why regarding drug and alcohol usage. Also if their child is using drugs or alcohol, they have some tools to help them with that.
MBMSFC is an off branch of the larger South Bay Families Connected which provides parents information regarding drug and alcohol prevention. According to MBMS Parent Teacher Student Association President Ann Marie Whitney, while MBMSFC was not created in response to recent events on campus, it will be helpful to parents who are trying to understand these incidents.
“The goal of MBMSFC is for parents to have a place where they can join together to get useful information and tools to help prevent teen substance abuse,” Whitney said. “We hope to see more parents embracing the concepts of speaking early and often with their kids about substance use prevention.”
The event hosted three guest speakers who addressed the myths regarding drug and alcohol usage, what illegal activities kids are doing today and the processing of the teenage brain. MBMS Student Resource Officer Jesse Garcia summarized the trends in our communities, Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Dr Michael Matthews presented the district policy of on campus drug and alcohol usage and Jackson moderated the event.
According to Jackson, MBMS will continue sporadic drug dogs visits on campus. Additionally, MBMS has scheduled an eighth grade student day which will be held to educate students on drug and alcohol usage on June 7 in their physical education classes.
“If a parent’s child is using drugs and or alcohol, we hope nights like this and MBMSFC can provide them the tools they need,” Jackson said. “All of this is a proactive move on our part to make students less vulnerable to the pressures of drugs and alcohol.”
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