Dear Parents/Guardians,

Many of you may remember the Social Norms survey that was offered to our students last spring. The survey provided our faculty and administration with a wide range of information on students' attitudes and perceptions about such issues as school climate, participation in extracurricular activities, teacher-student interaction, and alcohol and drug use in particular.

The Social Norms approach is based on the idea that people's behavior is influenced by what they believe others are doing and that these beliefs are often dramatically incorrect. When misperceptions are corrected, and individuals are made aware of actual behaviors the actual behaviors of others in their peer group, behavior is likely to shift in the direction of the "norm" of the group, that is, the more common behaviors of the group.

A key strategy in the Social Norms approach for reducing high-risk behavior is communicating research-based facts about local peer behavior to students in a positive and credible way. Since the facts are based on anonymous data gathered from students' peers, the messages carry a weight with young people that avoidance messages do not.

This letter is to inform you about our approach to the prevention of underage drinking and drug use and that in the upcoming weeks you will see our Social Norms media campaign with student-created posters, banners, email blasts, TV 35 advertisements and other kinds of communications that promote the positive and healthy behaviors that are already in abundance in Cranford High School.
I have attached an enjoyable short video that was produced by students from our Social Norms group. Please view it with your child and discuss the social norms message that it contains.

If your son/daughter is interested in participating in the Social Norms program at Cranford High School, please contact Mr. Brian Gilroy, Student Assistance Counselor at (908) 709-6290.

Thank you,

Rui Dionisio,
Principal