Highland Middle School PTSA serves a Title I school in Bellevue, Washington. To help their school community learn about the dangers of tobacco, vaping and nicotine use during students’ critical middle school years, they used their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to launch a Tobacco Prevention Campaign. They engaged their students through several awareness activities, including having open dialogues about tobacco use in health classes. They also made tobacco education resources available during lunch periods and encouraged students to take the pledge to stay tobacco-free. Working with local non-profit groups and the school’s health clinic, they hosted a parent education session on nicotine use and its impact on adolescents’ mental health. Their campaign also included participating in the Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action. Throughout their campaign, students engaged in interactive activities, learned about the deceptive tactics of the tobacco industry and actively participated in raising awareness of the issue – especially around the idea that vaping is not just water vapor. The grant allowed them to reach a wider audience within their school community and spread awareness in feeder schools, the PTSA Council and other local PTAs and with school board members and district staff. Through their education and advocacy, they empowered their school community to make informed choices about tobacco use. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“National PTA's advocacy efforts provide strong backing for our local campaigns. Knowing there's a larger movement behind us strengthens our voice and impact.”

The Aberdeen Middle School PTA in Aberdeen, Md., wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and the impact it can have on a student’s overall well-being. Using their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, they launched a Tobacco Prevention Campaign. For the first part of their campaign, they encouraged students to sign a pledge to remain tobacco free. The homeroom that had the most pledges won a prize. They then held a Take Down Tobacco event after school that was open to students and families. Representatives from the Maryland Department of Health and other government health organizations along with a local youth treatment center were there to share information about addiction and the harmful effects of tobacco. Students were given a tobacco-free passport, and for each information booth they visited, they received a stamp. Once the passport was filled with stamps, they were entered into a raffle. Also as part of their campaign, they purchased a lockbox where students could get rid of any vaping paraphernalia and e-cigarettes anonymously and responsibly. Parents and the school administration were very complimentary of the information that was shared throughout the campaign to help kids understand the dangers of tobacco use. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“The provided program materials and resources were colorful, informative and well geared towards young people. They helped to ensure our program would be successful.”

Moanalua High School PTSA in Honolulu, Hawaii, wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and the impact it can have on a student’s overall well-being. Using their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, they launched a Tobacco Prevention Campaign that included a school-wide health fair. The fair featured over 30 exhibitors along with 10 student-run booths that provided physical, mental, and social-emotional health information and resources. Attendees received materials about the negative effects of tobacco use and tobacco cessation resources to help students quit using tobacco. Community members were invited to attend, including elementary and middle schoolers and their families. The PTSA then held a National Take Down Tobacco Day during the school lunch hour, where students were invited to take a pledge against tobacco use. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“We held our National Take Down Tobacco event during the lunch hour so that all students could attend and take the pledge against tobacco use.”

MCS Noble Middle School in Wilmington, N.C., faced a big problem with tobacco use, with incidents of vaping being reported daily in the school bathroom. To raise awareness about the dangers of vaping and to help parents have open conversations with their kids about tobacco use, the PTA used their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to launch a Tobacco Prevention Campaign. They used the program materials and collaborated with local substance use counselors and the school’s health and PE teachers to create a month-long program aimed to educate parents, students and teachers about the harmful effects of vaping. The program included weekly public service announcements about tobacco prevention. The PTA also brought in speakers who turned their lives around after drug use, including a former student and athlete who began smoking and using drugs while he was the eighth grade. After these valuable talks, students participated in the Tobacco-Free Kids Day of Action, writing postcards to state legislators asking them to support a ban on flavored tobacco in North Carolina. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“This program empowered our students to say no to vaping.”

The Hollandale PTSA that serves the community of Simmons High, a Title 1 school in Mississippi, understood the importance of educating students and parents about the dangers of vaping early. Using their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, they launched a Tobacco Prevention Campaign for their students in sixth through eighth grades. They hosted an event open to their school community where a nurse spoke about the dangers of vaping and provided local resources to help students that are using tobacco quit. As part of the campaign, students took the pledge included in the Tobacco Prevention Campaign toolkit to take down tobacco and stop addiction before it starts. The PTSA also launched a letter writing campaign to their local congressman to encourage him to support initiatives to keep tobacco out of the hands of children. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“The program really helped students understand the reasons tobacco is so harmful to their bodies.”

Vaping was an ongoing challenge at West Haven High School in West Haven, Conn. The West Haven High School PTSA decided to tackle the issue head on! Using their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, they activated tobacco prevention activities on National Take Down Tobacco day using the provided Tobacco Prevention Campaign toolkit. Multiple school clubs got involved along with community groups and the entire school administration and staff. The school clubs came up with creative ways to advocate for “Taking Down Tobacco,” and promoted the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids messages. The PTSA handed out stickers, cards, bottles, sunglasses and information about the dangers of tobacco. Students also took the pledge to Take Down Tobacco! After school, students gathered to clean up cigarette butts, e-cigarette waste and other tobacco-related products. When it was all collected, it was obvious to them just how Big Tobacco’s trash is piling up in their community. The event was a huge success and educated their student population about the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“Students actively engaged in tobacco prevention efforts, transforming themselves into youth advocates that are equipped to carry on the anti-tobacco message.”

The PTA at Southeastern High School in Detroit, Mich., knew that many of their students had tried e-cigarettes and vaping – even on school grounds. They decided to make it their mission to make students aware of the dangers of tobacco. Using their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, they activated tobacco prevention activities on National Take Down Tobacco day using the provided Tobacco Prevention Campaign toolkit. They started the campaign by initiating a school-wide pledge where students and adults pledged to quit tobacco! In all, 270 people signed the pledge. They also launched a slogan and poster contest. They wrapped up their campaign activities with a workshop featuring community members talking with students and families about the effects and dangers e-cigarette use and vaping. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“We have received an overwhelming response to our campaign, it’s unbelievable what students can do when they have a voice and are active participants in campaign efforts!”

The Wheaton High School PTSA in Wheaton, Md., has a long history of engaging students in school-wide, year-round health and wellness initiatives. When they learned that 40% of high school students across their county reported having smoked e-cigarettes and flavored vaping products, they knew they had to take charge and take down tobacco! Using their grant from National PTA and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, they hosted a three-day social media storm. Using the provided Tobacco Prevention Campaign toolkit, students used creative ways to get the message out about Big Tobacco facts, tagging legislators and celebrities to get broader attention. They also hosted a Spring Health and Wellness Festival, which brought their school community together. Festival attendees took a chance and answered trivia questions about Big Tobacco to earn a prize. Through their campaign and event, they educated many of their families about the dangers of smoking e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products. #HowWePTA

In their own words:

“I am shocked that there are thousands of flavored tobacco products on the market for sale to teens.”