ST. MARK'S K wool, TI MILANI -4FesNiV • • ST. MARK'S SCHOOL OF TEXAS DEAN OF STUDENTS May 17, 1986 Mr. Thames L. Flynn Alcbhol-Drug Education 8901 Jones Road, Suite 1106 Houston, Texas 77065 Dear Mr. Flynn, I want to express my appreciation for the good work of Alcohol- Drug Education trainers at St. Mark's last month. Nearly five hundred students in grades seven through twelve participated in the four day Chemical abuse education program you directed with five other AIDE staff members. As you know, St. Mark's has in place a thoroughly conceived sub- stance abuse education plugLam, including a sequential curriculum integrated into regular instruction, a student support program, and strong parent interest and involvement. The AIDE program was a dramatic and positive addition to that program. Content material Erna the regular curriculum was reinforced by your presentations, and the members of your staff were well-prepared to expand on existing knowledge; the real life experience of AIDE trainers gave their presentations a legitimacy in the eyes of the students which is missing from instruc- tion by our faculty. The fact that your presenters were non-judgmental in their discussions with students, and the fact that they were strangers, created a security for the students in asking questions or trying out ideas. However, I feel that it was more than simple structure which created the atmosphere of confidence, and I attribute it in large part to the genuine concern and interest projected by members of the AE E staff. Your presentation to our parent group went well. The low attendance may be attributed to the frequency of meetings an the same toppic scheduled by our own Circlessatc.c&ern, and also to the timing ofthe meeting; those parents who did attend got same good information, though perhaps the presentation could have been kept shorter, and more time allowed for questions and for discussion among the parents. I am grateful for your efficiency and your flexibility in handling the business aspects of our arrangement. I realize that there are special problems for a new business, and you managed to minimize them. I look forward to discussing with you same sort of return program for next year. Sincerely, 414.442,A, Randall Holdridge 10600 Preston Road • Dallas, Texas 75230-4047 • (214) 363-6491 -6--
