LPOHS hosting 'Just Say Know' festival

SANDPOINT — Preventing drug use and its pitfalls among teens is only part of the message of today’s festival at Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School.

Prevention, though, is the keyword.

As part of a its anti-meth program, the school plans a festival between 5 and 7:30 p.m. today at the school’s gymnasium at 1005 N. Boyer Ave.

The carnival-like event with its inflatable jump castle, a children’s fishing booth, dart board, hoop toss, and a dunking booth is meant for families, and money raised will be used for a senior graduation.

The bottom line, however, is more stark.

Several groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, as well as Teens Against Tobacco Use, the Panhandle Health District, Life Choices and The Idaho Meth Project will be represented at this year’s event titled, “Just Say Know.”

“We decided this year to just make a festival of knowledge,” said Linda Spade, the school’s family consumer science teacher. “It’s basically a day when they can get all this information, and learn about choices.”

In the past, the school has combined its anti-meth march — the annual spring event happens in March — with guest speakers at a community event. This year, administrators opted for a bigger festival that would raise money for seniors, and invite a variety of regional health groups to speak with teens during the day set aside nationally to educate teens about pregnancy.

“The actual national day to prevent teenage pregnancy is May 5,” Spade said. “We’ve created movies about what it’s like to be a teenage parent, what it takes to be a parent and how much it costs.”

Early Head Start is included on the roll of guests, and this year’s speaker, Michael Davis, a Washington-based university instructor and counselor, will give advice on identifying and following through on one’s goals in a discussion titled “Know brainer.”

Today’s festival, which starts during school for students before the community-oriented evening program, includes panels from NA and AA.

Money for senior graduation will be raised through food sales and desserts, a silent auction, a bicycle raffle and seniors will auction their services in a “labor auction.” The winner of the bike raffle will be announced after Lost in the ‘50s.

For more information call LPOHS at 263-6121.