Through a familiar tune and original lyrics, a class at Hope View Elementary School is spreading the message to “stop and think” before taking part in alcohol and drug use.
OCDE’s Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Team recently led Ocean View School District students through an eight-week course about drug prevention and awareness. While learning about the importance of making safe decisions, fifth-graders in teacher Emily Yamaguchi’s class were inspired to use a song to encourage their peers to think before engaging in substance use.
After reading the lyrics to “Stop and Think,” OCDE Project Assistant Lisa Nguyen helped the students turn their idea into a youth development project as part of the course.
Set to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” students performed their song on March 27 with direction from Yamaguchi and support from OCDE. Watch their music video above captured by the department’s Media Services team.
“With the teacher’s and parents’ permission, we got the students out here singing this wonderful song that we can include in our curriculum in the years to come,” Nguyen said.
From Jan. 22 through the end of March, the OCDE team made weekly visits to the fifth-grade class to increase students’ awareness of potentially harmful substances and help them develop character skills. Through each lesson tailored to fourth- through sixth-graders, students learned about the prevention of smoking and vaping before focusing on social skills and media literacy.
In addition to providing local schools with this curriculum, the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention program — supported by the Orange County Health Care Agency — collaborates with school administrators, counselors and community liaisons to host awareness workshops across district campuses.
Check out the “Stop and Think” video produced by OCDE Media Services and learn more about the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention team by visiting the program website.