Posted on: Thursday, February 24, 2005

WHAT WORKS
'Alternative High' offers drug-free fun to Waipahu students

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

Waipahu Intermediate School students learned last week that there are other ways — at least 31 — to have fun while steering clear of risky behavior.

Through an all-day activity called Alternative High, the 1,400 seventh- and eighth-graders hit various locations around the island or learned new skills on campus, then wrote essays on what they had learned.

"The whole day is devoted to having fun and bonding with your teachers ... in a drug-free activity," said Ginger Fujimoto, the Peer Education Program adviser who was in charge of the program.

Students were able to choose from 31 activities.

Popular field trips included going to Ultrazone, Ice Palace and the Honolulu Zoo, as well as hiking, golf, bowling, karaoke and skateboarding.

Those who stayed on campus could learn line dancing, cheerleading or karate, do craftwork, watch movies or play sports. This group also watched a documentary on the dangers of crystal methamphetamine use.

Eighth-grader Tiana Borja, who helped organize the activities, said students her age are already experimenting with drugs and many of them have taken up smoking, walking around with cigarettes behind their ears.

"Our hope and objective is for them to learn they can do these activities that they learned today instead of doing drugs and getting high," she said.

Alternative High is only one way students in the Peer Education Program try to teach their classmates. The PEP students also give classroom presentations, put on lunchtime activities and offer support for students who come to them with problems.

This was the first time Waipahu High had an Alternative High since 2001.

The day gave teachers the opportunity to share skills with their students that normally wouldn't come up in the classroom. "They get to see their teachers in a different light," Fujimoto said. For example, the school's band director, a friend of professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, got to show his skills at Hickam Skate Park.

Students who stayed on campus had a chance to display the clay erasers, hand sanitizer and lauhala bracelets they had crafted.

A surprise hit was the campus beautification activity. About 30 students paid $2 for the opportunity to dig in the dirt, plant grass and do other things to make the campus more pleasant. Fujimoto pointed out they might have been drawn by the promise of pastries in the morning and hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch.

A glimpse at the essays indicated that they were picking up on the intent of the program, that there are other things to do than get high.

"We want them to make healthier choices," Fujimoto said.

Fujimoto said intermediate school is a great time to promote drug prevention in the schools.

"It's just really a good age to try to do drug prevention because they're reachable, they still listen to their parents and they still pretty much listen to the teachers and you can still affect their choices," she said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.