Forest Lake High SADD students describe anti-risk, mental-health work to school board
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Summary
Members of the high school chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) told the Forest Lake Area School Board about peer-support activities, the I Promise prom-safety campaign, a "needle reset" stress-ball fundraiser and plans to distribute 3,039 teddy bears to kindergarteners; club leaders said SADD has about 90 members.
Students from the Forest Lake Area High School SADD chapter gave a short presentation to the board about club activities and outreach.
"Our goal of SADD is to empower students to make safe and positive choices by providing education, peer support, and fun school wide activities and events," said Leila Gupar, a senior and SADD president. She and fellow student leaders described annual events including a Little Debbie distribution to start mornings with encouraging notes, a pre-prom "I Promise" campaign with bracelets and posters, caroling at a senior living home, and a recent fundraiser in which the club sold stress balls to fund a "needle reset" support activity.
Vice president Brinley Steele and other student speakers outlined hands-on volunteer projects and community service, and said the chapter currently counts about 90 members. The students displayed examples of 3-D printed items and other club projects collected during their presentation.
Board members thanked the students and asked follow-up questions about membership and activities. Member Christensen praised the teddy-bear initiative, noting it helped elementary schools unify around the district mascot. The board chair closed the segment by recognizing the students' work and congratulating seniors headed to college.
The board did not take any action based on the presentation; it was listed as an amended agenda item and recorded in the meeting minutes.