Caldwell I. S. D. Middle School GASO Event Uses
Texas Comptroller's Tobacco Compliance Grant
to Assist in Promoting Campus Tobacco Prevention

Caldwell I.S.D. Middle School marked the "Great American Smoke Out" (GASO) on November 20th by gathering classes, faculty and staff together to discuss the impact of tobacco use on their lives.  The students researched and provided facts and statistics about tobacco use in America and in Texas.  They conducted an interactive demonstration in which they drop 7 BB's in a metal bucket, while students closed their eyes and listened to the sound of 7 BB's hitting the metal bucket.  Those 7 BB's represented the 7 people dying from drug overdoses every day. The students then dropped 340 BB's into the bucket that represented alcohol deaths every day.  Finally, they dropped 1,200 BB's in the bucket that represented the 1,200 people dying every day in America from tobacco use. 

Teacher Susan Groce, who lost her father, and Officer BJ Hegemeyer, who lost her mother, both shared their experience of having a parent die from smoking and shared their pictures of those parents in order to personalize their stories and show students the faces of these victims of tobacco use.

Many students shared their story of a loved one who has died, was sick, or was able to successfully quit smoking.  Several staff members also shared their stories.  One staff member said her mother had died from second-hand smoke.  These students and staff received a Texas STEP t-shirt for sharing their stories with the other attendees.  Texas STEP bookmarks, with the laws about tobacco use, were passed out in each class. 

Susan Groce, Caldwell ISD educator, discusses the impact of losing her father to tobacco

Officer B.J. Hegemeyer shows students a photograph of her mother, who died from tobacco.

C.I.S.D. received a $4000 tobacco law compliance & education grant again this year from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.  Texas STEP promotes tobacco education & prevention and provides oversight and technical training & assistance to the Comptroller's community tobacco grant programs throughout the state of Texas.  

Thanks to all who helped and allowed us to do this very important presentation to Caldwell Middle School.  Thanks to Mr. Stout for taking pictures and Holly Ashley for videoing the presentation.