Lacey High School Students Give Lesson On Staying Substance Free

A group of Lacey Township High School students put on an anti-drug assembly that is sure to be remembered by an enthusiastic audience of Lanoka Harbor Elementary School third and fourth graders.

“We know how to live life without being under the influence of tobacco and chemicals,” moderator Megan Cohen, a junior, told the crowd of students. “We will be showing you ways you can have fun without doing drugs and alcohol,” she said.

Kicking off with a rousing rendition of the song “Cotton-Eyed Joe” the crowd sang and danced while Megan grabbed her younger brother Jordan up to dance.

“That’s one of the nice things about this assembly,” said Heather Wombough, interim student assistance counselor for the district’s four elementary schools. “They’re seeing that their siblings are promoting this, so it’s even more of an incentive to stay drug free.”

The 34 high school students that took part in the assembly are all members of AADA, Association Against Drugs and Alcohol.  All take a pledge to stay chemical free.

“Singing is my anti-drug,” senior C.J. Hage said. C.J. sang a rendition of the song “Train Wreck” by Sarah McLachlan. “When you do stuff like that it hurts your lungs,” she explained.

Senior Deon Smith was quite a hit as he raced through the seated youngsters high-fiving them. He participated in a basketball demonstration and was quick to grab the student’s attention when he challenged one of the youngsters to try to get the ball away from him.

“Get out and play basketball,” he yelled. “It’s fun.

Junior Logan McDonald added, “If I did drugs I wouldn’t be able to do a layup or dribble. I’d be out of breath.”

Members of the Lacey Township High School swim team took the time to present the different strokes used in swim meets and gave an important message. “We swim really long hours. We wouldn’t be able to maintain our lane,” said Dallas Nicollette, a sophomore.  

Members of the bowling team Juniors Gabriella Biele and Nicholas Juliano showed the concentration that is needed for that sport. They invited some of the students to try their hand at the sport.

Junior Sarah Schwec wowed the students when she brought in her dog, a cocker spaniel named Charlie. Sarah is a member of 4-H. “If I did drugs or alcohol I couldn’t form the bond I have with my dog, Charlie,” she said.

Even puzzle skills were presented as an alternative pastime as was a unique demonstration on puppeteering.

At the close of the assembly, Wombough reiterated the theme of the show: “They [the high school students] were here to show you that you don’t need drugs or alcohol to have fun.”

In addition, all of the third and fourth graders received coloring books and bookmarks in their classrooms in order to reinforce the program’s message.