Rockwood was awarded the CPPW (Communities Putting Prevention to Work) grant for the 2011-2012 school year.  The purpose of this grant is to educate the Rockwood community on the negative effects of tobacco use.  The Rockwood CPPW team has implemented the NASBE Gold Standard tobacco policy.  Signs have been posted in the district announcing this tobacco free policy.

We have also trained tobacco free Student Advocacy Teams (SAT's) at all four high schools led by faculty sponsors.  These teams are responsible for two primary functions; to deploy peer education lessons to 7th and 8th grade Health/P.E. classes at all 6 middle schools and to develop counter-marketing posters that will be rotated among all high schools and middle schools throughout the district.

Below are several shocking facts about secondhand smoke and tobacco use.

1. Secondhand smoke is by far the most dangerous air most Americans encounter.
2. Secondhand smoke is classified as a Group A Carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Carcinogens are agents known to cause cancer.
3. Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
4. Secondhand smoke causes heart damage similar to that of mainstream tobacco smoke.
5. Secondhand smoke can cause the same diseases in non-smokers as in smokers: heart attacks, asthma attacks, and other breathing problems.
6. Every year an estimated 1,200 Missourians die from illnesses caused by secondhand smoke.
7. Children of parents who smoke have an increased risk of respiratory illness.
8. If you are in a car for one hour with the windows up and someone is smoking, it's as if you smoked three cigarettes.
9. If you are in a restaurant for two hours where smoking is allowed (even though you are in the non-smoking section), it is as if you smoked one and a half cigarettes.
10. Seventy-five percent of nicotine from a cigarette ends up in the atmosphere.
11. Every year approximately 3,000 non-smoking U.S. adults die from lung cancer as a result of secondhand smoke.
12. A smoker inhales 4,000 chemicals with every puff of a cigarette.
13. Children of parents who smoke have an increased risk of ear infections.

 *References: Smokebusters - Mentor’s Manual, Phase 1

Funding provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and St. Louis County Health Department.

www.letsfaceitstl.com               THE MISSOURI TOBACCO QUITLINE

                                      1-800-QUIT NOW

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RECENT EVENTS

St. Louis County Department of Health hosted a Youth Health and Wellness Town Hall Meeting  on Saturday April 28, 2012 at the St. Louis Community College/Florissant Valley campus.  Area youth engaged elected officials, policy makers and school administrators on issues such as tobacco, drugs, teen pregnancy, asthma, obesity, bullying, and physical fitness that impact teens.  Rockwood’s own Guidance and Prevention Services Coordinator, Shonda Ambers-Phillips, served as a panel participant discussing Rockwood’s Tobacco Free Policy 1410 and Tobacco Prevention in our schools. 

Kick Butts Day (March 21, 2012) is a nationally recognized day for activism in which youth in every state and around the world stands out, speaks up, and seizes control against big tobacco.  Since KBD (Kick Butts Day) fell in the middle of spring break, participating schools hosted their KBD events the week before or after spring break.  Below is a list of events/activities that took place in observance of Kick Butts Day throughout the district. 

EUREKA HIGH SCHOOL'S KICK BUTTS DAY EVENTS - MARCH 12-15

• Handouts - Distribution of tobacco fact sheets during all lunch shifts
• Tobacco Kills - Used plastic cups to create this message on the fence around the softball field
• Grave Yard - Tombstones with tobacco facts, body bags, etc.
• Tobacco Chemicals Display - Brought awareness to the chemicals used in tobacco products

ILC'S KICK BUTTS DAY EVENTS - APRIL 5, 2012

• Speaker from BJC - Brought in diseased organs (i.e. lung of a smoker)
• Speaker through PIE - Discussed the negative effects of tobacco use
• Tobacco Trivia - Trivia game about tobacco, winners received prizes
• Resource/Info Room - Entire room loaded with tobacco posters, fact sheets, books and other resources
• Pledge/Graffiti Wall - Students signed tobacco free pledge, tobacco related graffiti wall

LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL'S KICK BUTTS DAY EVENTS - MARCH 12-15

• Tobacco Related Announcements - Aired over school's PA system daily
• Tobacco Trivia - Trivia game at lunch, winners received prizes
• Posters - Posters containing tobacco facts were displayed
• Handouts - Distribution of tobacco fact sheets during all lunch shifts

MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL'S KICK BUTTS DAY EVENTS - MARCH 12-15

• Pledge - Students signed tobacco free pledge
• Tobacco Facts - Aired on TV's throughout the school
• Banners - Students' hand painted banners were displayed
• Handouts - Distribution of tobacco fact sheets during all lunch shifts
• Cigarette Box Display - Brought awareness to the chemicals used in tobacco products

SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL'S KICK BUTTS DAY EVENTS - MARCH 12-15

• Tobacco Related Announcements - Aired over school's PA system daily
• Posters - Posters containing tobacco facts were displayed
• Handouts - Distribution of tobacco fact sheets during all lunch shifts

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CONTACT US

If you have questions  or for more information, please contact Stephanie Rawie at (636) 733-2172 or Michelle Elliott at (636) 733-2171.