Taumarunui High School
Background
In February 2008, the newly appointed principal of Taumarunui High School decided to tackle the increasing problem of smoking in the school and the Head of Physical Education, Chris Patten, was appointed as Smokefree Coordinator.
Since then, the school has made huge efforts to promote smokefree both in the school and community. The initiatives have been aimed at helping both school students and members of staff to quit smoking.
Planning
After an initial meeting with the Principal, Chris asked the Health Sponsorship Council's advice about appropriate measures to take, and researched the issue on the Smokefree Schools website. He produced a document listing the school's smokefree aims during the first year. The policy template from the Smokefree Schools website was used as a basis for Taumarunui High's own policy.
With funding from Waikato Primary Health, the school purchased resources to add into their health curriculum including smokefree videos and books. For the first time, the school also established a smokefree budget of $500 to cover the costs of implementing the policy.
Implementation
Taumarunui High launched its smokefree policy with the help of the Deputy Principal who had been a smoker for 35 years. The Deputy Principal agreed to be a smokefree ambassador for the school, and announced at school assembly that he intended to quit. The school contacted their local newspaper which featured an article on the Deputy Principal and included a photo of him in front of the one of the school's 20 smokefree signs.
The school then began to implement an extensive promotion plan. Smokefree posters were placed in every classroom and in the school hall. Banners were put up in the school gym, stickers were placed on notice boards, and smokefree stencils were sprayed on school pavements.
The school paid $25 each for the metallic smokefree signs but many resources were donated by the Health Sponsorship Council. These included T shirts and fleeces for staff, along with drink bottles, lanyards, pens, beanies, backpacks, mints, balloons and stickers.
Taumarunui High also made every school cross country, athletics and swimming event smokefree to reinforce the message. It held a smokefree wearable arts show with smokefree messages stated to the audience of students and members of the community. Other promotional initiatives included role modelling by PE staff who wear smokefree the clothing donated by the Health Sponsorshiip Council. Smokefree articles were included in the school newsletter informing the community about the policy and inviting parents to work with the school to help children quit.
The school is forming a staff committee to deal with student smokers. It is trying to move from disciplinary to a restorative approach and a supportive environment for students who smoke. Chris has found this to be the most difficult part of the policy to implement due to lack of human resources and the amount of time required.
Evaluation
Taumarunui High School has seen enormous success with its smokefree initiatives, particularly on the promotional side of things. The policy is still running and since its implementation, two other staff members have tried to quit smoking.
What worked well
The launch of the policy involving the school's Deputy Principal worked particularly well, raising the profile of smokefree, not only in the school, but in the community through media coverage. He was an excellent role model and was able to really catch the students' attention. The smokefree stencils also seem very popular with students, who often comment on them and notice when they have been re-sprayed.
What could have worked better
The school is trying to overcome time and resource issues so they can effectively support student smokers. They are looking at ways to work around these problems, including the possibility of asking members of the community to assist.
Overall, Chris believes that there is still room for improvement at Taumarunui High, but thinks every step towards making a school smokefree is worthwhile.
"It's a very gradual process. I'd advise others to try and use as many avenues to promote the issue as possible. Things don't work well in isolation, but together they have an impact."
More information
You can find out more about Taumarunui High School's smokefree initiatives by contacting Chris Patten directly.