With the Semi-Formal dance and winter break approaching, I find myself receiving more calls with concerns about off-campus parties involving drugs and alcohol. Even "good" kids will regularly encounter alcohol and drug use by their peers and find themselves at a party with unexpected expectations.

According to the 2004 Minnesota Student Survey (administered to over 100,000 middle and upper school students in the state), more than 50% of 12th graders and 25% of 9th graders report using alcohol in the past 30 days. One-third of 12th graders report driving after alcohol or drug use and 43% report ever riding in a car with friends who use alcohol or other drugs.

There is no doubt that alcohol is a common risk-taking behavior during adolescence and MPA students are no exception. Often this behavior happens, at home or school, right under our supervision. It is important that adults send a consistent and clear message that, as our handbook states, any illegal use of drugs or alcohol is forbidden.

As an administrator, I am often asked for my advice on how to handle weekend parties. Based on my years of working with high school students, here are a few tips you might want to consider:

If your child has been invited to a party:
Let your child know that you will be calling the parent hosting the party to offer food or pop. If the party plans suddenly evaporate, maybe that wasn't an appropriate party.

If you make the call, great; you are now connected with another parent and can discuss expectations for the party.

Discuss with your child your expectations and consequences. Have a code word between you that means, "I need to be picked up." Be sure you have the address and phone number of the house where the party is taking place.

No sleepovers. The longer the evening, the higher the probability of risky behavior and the less likely the chaperones are still awake.

If you hear about the party after the fact, call the parent to thank them for having all those kids over. If you find out that they didn't know about the party and, as a matter of fact, they'd been on a trip, you now have a connection and valuable information.

If you hear about drinking at a party, I encourage you to call the host parents and let them know what you heard. Think about what you would want to know if the party was at your house.

If you are hosting the party:
Have a start and stop time. Be aware of curfew laws and adolescents driving when bars are closing.

No open invitations - only invited guests. Have your child give you the list of people invited. You might be surprised at how fast word of a party spreads.

Active supervision - Parents need to be awake and make occasional trips through the party area. Consider inviting another parent over for dinner to help chaperone.

No one leaves the party and returns. If students know they can't drink or smoke in your home, their car can become an alternative location. No use of bedrooms. Again - no sleepovers.

Perhaps the most important message to the students at MPA is that the adults in their lives are communicating with each other to protect them from harm. Remember, just because we don't have control, doesn't mean we have no control.

What's happening in the Upper School:
US Instrumental Concert on December 3rd Come and enjoy listening to both band and orchestra ensembles on Monday evening, December 3rd, at 7:30 p.m. in the Nicholson Center. This is the only opportunity during the year to enjoy the talents in both the band and the orchestra programs.

Upper School Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences Our second quarter conferences are Thursday evening, December 6th, and all day Friday, December 7th. If you have not requested conference times, please register online at http://www.moundsparkacademy.org/conferences/

Summer Opportunity to travel to France and Switzerland This year, the French department is proud to offer a two-week trip to France and Switzerland in June of 2008 for students currently taking an Upper School French class. It is not too late to sign up. Please see the blog for more information. http://blogs.moundsparkacademy.org/france2008/