intensive three-day workshop to prepare teachers, counsellors and parents for a drug education programme that will be implemented in half of the Island's primary schools this September.

In opening the workshop, at Sonesta Beach hotel, Mr. Simons indicated that the introduction of the Lions Quest Skills For Adolescents programme was a direct response to Dr. David Archibald's recommendations in the National Drug Strategy.

The programme, which was brought to Bermuda about three years ago by the Lions Club and is already used at Bermuda High School for Girls and Sandys Secondary, is aimed at helping youngsters - Primary Seven students -make the right choices.

Students are taught about the harmful effects of drugs, the impact the media has on their decisions, conflict-resolving skills, and to make positive choices.

Classroom discussions and take-home work books are all a part of the programme to help youngsters recognise their own importance in the community.

Yesterday's workshop, presented by Mr. Eddie DeAngelo of Philadelphia, saw principals, teachers, counsellors, and PTA presidents from Southampton Glebe, Heron Bay, Port Royal, Paget Primary, Purvis, Friendship Vale, Cedar Grove, Woodlands, West Pembroke, Dellwood, Harrington Sound, Francis Patton, Devon Lane, and Bermuda Institute receive an introduction to the programme and participate in small work-group activities.

Mr. DeAngelo, who has taught students at the Primary Seven level and was trained in the programme in 1987, conducts workshops on the programme all over the US.

At the completion of the workshop today, participants are expected to be certified to teach the programme.

Partly sponsored by the Lions Club, the workshop will be repeated next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the other Government primary schools.

The programme is expected to be taught in all Government primary schools by September, 1993.

"I'm pleased to see this great cooperation between professionals, educators, parents and the community,'' Mr. Simons said.

BACK TO SCHOOL -- Half of the Island's Primary school principals, teachers, counsellors, and PTA presidents yesterday took part in the first day of a three-day Lions Quest Skills For Adolescents training workshop. Pictured in one of the work groups are, from left, Mrs. Maxine Lowe of Friendship Vale, Dr. Kathy White Frisby of Heron Bay, Heron Bay principal Mr. Alan Leigh, St.

David's Primary principal Mr. Eddie Wright, Southampton Glebe principal Ms Esmee Williams, counsellor Mrs. Marilyn Smith, Mrs. Ceci Bernardt Lambert, Mr.

John D'Alessio of Paget Lions, Mr. David Burrows of Sandys Lions, and (at front) programme trainer Mr. Eddie DeAngelo.