Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
Tobacco-Use Prevention Education
530/895-2631
Dear Parent or Guardian:
We are pleased to inform you that on April 4th and 5th, 2012, the “Every 15 Minutes” program will again be
presented in partnership with California Highway Patrol, Chico Police Department, Chico Fire Department,
Enloe Hospital, Newton Bracewell, and numerous other agencies and organizations on all CUSD highschool campuses. “Every 15 Minutes” is a two-day program originally developed by Chico Police
Department in 1996 to help prevent alcohol-related incidents. The program focuses on 11th and 12th grade
students, challenging them to think about drinking, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature
decisions. This program has won nationwide recognition and has been duplicated throughout the United
States, and continues, thanks to a grant from the California Highway Patrol.
Students selected from each school site will participate as the “living dead”. As a casualty of an alcoholrelated incident, every 15 minutes throughout the day, student participants will be removed from class by
“the grim reaper” and made-up to be later reintroduced to their classes as a “living dead” victim. While the
student is gone, a police officer and school counselor will read the “living dead” students’ obituary to the
class. Upon returning to class, the “living dead” student will continue on with their class schedule, but will
not interact with others, as if “dead”. An additional component of the program will include a staged, lunchtime drunk driving traffic collision on each campus.
At the end of day one, the “living dead” students will participate in an overnight retreat where they will
participate in a number of activities including listening to guest speakers, letter writing to parents, and
preparing for the school assembly the following day. A separate program for all parents in the community
will take place that evening from 7 – 8:30 at Enloe Conference Center, 1528 Esplanade. We hope that you
are available to attend this event!!
On day two of the program, an assembly for 11th and 12th grade students and their parents will take place on
each high school campus. The assembly will feature presentations by various individuals including those
from law enforcement, emergency response personnel, school staff, parents, and the students themselves.
The overall message of the assembly will be - alcohol doesn’t just hurt those who drink it - too often,
the innocent are the victims.
Every 15 Minutes program participants will be chosen via an application and selection process at each
school-site. Should you have questions regarding this program, please contact Ann Brodsky, coordinator of
Safe and Drug Free Schools 895-2631, or the principal at your son/daughter’s school site.
Thank you!
The Every 15 Minutes Committee