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To the editor:
Dear Marblehead High School students, parents, guardians, faculty and community members:
As prom and graduation season approaches, Marblehead Public Schools, the Marblehead Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office are joining together to ask every family and every student to make safety the priority. These milestones should be remembered for celebration, accomplishment and community pride, not for preventable harm caused by underage drinking, impaired driving or unsafe gatherings.
We are asking parents and guardians to speak directly with their students before prom night. Please know where your student is going before and after the event, who they will be with, who is supervising any gathering and how transportation will be handled. Clear expectations, active supervision and a plan for getting home safely remain the strongest tools for prevention.
Students should understand that there is never a safe reason to drink underage, ride with an impaired driver or stay in a situation that feels unsafe. The right decision is to leave, call a parent or trusted adult and seek help immediately. A late-night phone call is always better than a dangerous decision.
Massachusetts law prohibits furnishing alcohol to anyone under 21. So-called “social host” violations are not minor matters, and they create serious safety risks for young people and can result in criminal charges. We urge all parents, guardians and residents to help keep our community safe by not hosting underage drinking at homes, parties or gatherings.
Rather, parents and guardians are asked to support a safe, substance-free hosting environment for our students by setting clear expectations, supervising gatherings responsibly and making certain that no alcohol, cannabis or other substances are available to teens.
Our shared message is simple: celebrate responsibly, look out for one another and make choices that ensure every student returns home safely. Working together as students, families, schools, police and community partners we can keep prom and graduation season focused on the achievements our young people have earned.
Sincerely,
John Robidoux
Superintendent of Schools
Marblehead Public Schools
Dennis King
Chief of Police
Marblehead Police Department
Paul F. Tucker
District Attorney
Essex County
