Annual Freshmen Forum

On Underage Drinking Is Oct. 19

By Eliza Hallabeck

For the third year in a row, Newtown High School freshmen and their parents are invited to the school together for a night sponsored by the Newtown Parent Connection and the NHS PTSA that will discuss the issue of underage drinking.

The annual Freshmen Forum on Underage Drinking is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, at 7 pm.

This year, according to Temple Whitacker, a former Newtown Parent Connection board member and a current parent volunteer, there will be five speakers that the event who will all discuss underage drinking from their own perspectives. Ms Whitacker said presenters will include an emergency room physician, someone who has lost a loved one due to underage drinking, and someone who has struggled with drinking in the past.

“Our main objective is to educate parents on underage drinking,” said Ms Whitacker.

Having parents attend the forum with their children, Ms Whitacker said, opens up an opportunity for dialogue on the subject.

Parents and students in attendance will be given folders that contain several pamphlets of local resources and further information on the topic. If parents have further questions, Ms Whitacker said Parent Connection can also be contacted and further information is available on the organization’s website, www.newtownparentconnection.org.