At the Tuesday, May 7 meeting of the Rio Grande Prevention Partners Key Leader Board and Community Boards, the Bill Metz Elementary fourth graders gave their third annual prevention project. This year, the project expanded beyond just the class of Mrs. Rachael Torres to also include all fourth graders.

Each class explored a different substance, split between marijuana, tobacco and alcohol and learned how the substance is made and how using it can negatively affect their brains/bodies. The research was conducted by the students, who then built on their knowledge by writing skits about declining use when offered the substance as well as creating informational pamphlets and boards with other facts they learned.
Torres invited the students to answer what facts they learned and which they found the most interesting. Answers from the students included the fermentation process, how alcohol can cause organ failure and how when intoxicated a person’s emotional state can change in a matter of seconds.

The fourth graders also recently presented on marijuana to the school board and gave a presentation at the Bill Metz Family Fun Night on May 9.