STUDENTS FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

Mission High School Students Want To Have A Safe Learning Environment.

That's why they've taken on an initiative that would see a crackdown on
drug use in and around the high schools.

Students at all three high schools recently voted in favor of instituting
drug free zones around their schools, with no tolerance for drug use.

"We want to keep the drugs out of our schools," said Hatzic secondary Grade
12 student Amy Goulding. With drugs in school, "we can't have a pro-active
learning environment."

Catherine Proud, a Grade 11 student at Heritage Park, said having a person
on drugs in class "totally slows down the whole group."

Her schoolmate, Laura Midan, agrees. The drug free zones relieve the stress
and tension that comes with having drugs in school. "It makes it easier to
learn," she said.

Students are now canvassing the houses in the neighborhood, notifying them
of the policy.

"It keeps our schools safe and proves we do care," said Karla Goodridge, a
Grade 11 student at Heritage Park, who notes teenagers are "always blamed"
for negative things in society.

"It's just common sense not to do drugs while you're at school," said
Mission secondary's Kari Hewer. ""Drugs are at every school, but it's an
old reputation we [Mission Secondary] have to get over."

While Hatzic's Levi Ferris doesn't think the initiative will stop the "die
hards" from using drugs, he does think it will discourage drug use. "It's
less convenient," said Ferris of the environment created by drug free zones.

Seventeen signs are being made up for the three high schools to hang in the
two block radius around their schools - the drug free zones.

Student councils are paying for the signs, and the District of Mission is
planning to hang the signs for the students.

Council supported the initiative that students presented to their
classmates, but wondered if it couldn't be expanded to include elementary
students.

"Why only secondary schools," asked Councillor Jenny Stevens. "We know
drugs are at the elementary schools."

School liaison officer Const. Laurel Klassen said in the future that may be
possible. However, Windebank elementary is already in a drug free zone,
because of its proximity to Heritage Park.