As part of the district’s commitment to health education and equipping students with the skills necessary to lead healthy lifestyles, Ronkonkoma Middle School students recently attended an informative program on the dangers of vaping – an electronic smoking activity that has become a cause for concern on the national level. 

During the assembly, which was provided by Suffolk County Police Officer Wendy Verlotte, the students learned that although marketed as being safe, vaping is in fact a highly dangerous activity. Officer Verlotte explained that while the official FDA-approved study won’t be available to the public until 2022, researchers have found that the e-liquids and vape juices contain harmful chemicals such as lead, formaldehyde and various other toxins – reinforcing why it should still be avoided entirely. 

The program coincided with the district’s robust health curriculum, which focuses on educating students about the dangers of destructive decisions and teaching them proactively to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.