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Rugby earns a party

By Staff | Mar 17, 2010

When the final school bell rings this Friday afternoon, March 26, at Rugby Jr.-Sr. High, students won’t be excitedly heading to the exits.

Instead, they will be heading for the Charles Hanneman Gymnasium for six hours of food, games and a rock concert.

It’s the reward for all the efforts students put in to win the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s Teen Safe Driving contest.

For five months the students conducted several in-school and community activities to promote safe driving habits, including using seat belts.

Michele Lind, student council advisor, credits the students for putting in a lot of time to come up with the activities.

And there, indeed, were many.

Students set up an information booth at many sporting events during the winter. At the booth, fans could take a safe driving quiz and were awarded prizes. Cheerleaders led the crowd in cheers to promote safe driving. Student council members also visited Ely Elementary and Little Flower School to talke with students there about the importance of wearing seat belts. A smashed pickup was placed on the school grounds for a few weeks as a solemn reminder that vehicle crashes do happen, and the importance for drivers to wear seatbelts. The school also produced a 30-second video clip about the consequences of not practicing safe driving.

Points were earned based on the type and number of events held. Also, the school earned first place in the Click it Quick safe driving video contest. That also earned points toward the overall contest.

Scores were posted on the DOT’s teen safe driving website throughout the contest and Rugby was in the lead for most of it, but there were other schools vying for the top prize right down to the last day.

“For all the work we did put in, it was nice to get the prize,’ said senior Alyssa Berginski. “We’re all looking forward to it (the party), especially the concert.”

“While winning the contest was nice, I hope the safe driving message the project coordinators worked so hard to promote won’t be forgotten,” said senior Jacey Shively. “That’s what is about. We want students to always think about that, and wearing their seat belt.”

DOT officials were at the school on March 12 to officially declare RHS the winner.

Shively said Mrs. Lind and Colleen Beckman, community facilitator, deserve a lot of credit as well, helping with the contest. She also applauded her fellow students for taking this project seriously and participating.

Fessenden-Bowdon high school was runner-up with North Prairie, Rolla and Rolette high schools placing third.

The party will include food, games, prizes and a live band sponsored by the North Dakota National Guard, Cloverdale Meats, N.D. Safety Council and the N.D. DOT.

Fun games will kick off the afternoon hosted by the National Guard followed by food. The live entertainment will feature the Bismarck band, Fully Loaded, who will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Charles Hanneman Gymnasium.