Dear GHS students,

On behalf of the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office, I would like to welcome you back to school from your summer break and I hope that you enjoyed it and had fun.

Your School Resource Officers, school board members as well as many administration personnel and teachers tell me that we have an extraordinary group of rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Knowing many of you personally, I can attest to this myself. We are all very proud to have you at Gloucester High School this year and I personally wish you the best.

Many of you will face "challenges" in the coming year, such as the temptation to use alcohol and illegal drugs. Don’t say or believe that "it cannot happen" or it "will not happen to me" because it can and will. Unfortunately, you can instantly and tragically change lives and futures by making the wrong choices.

As most of you are aware, we have lost several teens in recent years from traffic crashes in our community. These tragedies and the probability of you becoming involved in a traffic crash or worse are of great concern to your sheriff’s office. To that end, I ask that you avoid the temptation to use illegal drugs or participate in underage drinking. Please do not give in to the pressure from your peers that could negatively affect you, a loved one or a friend’s life.

When confronted with situations that may be harmful to your well-being, ask yourself this question: "Would I do this if I were alone?" If your answer is yes, then it is probably safe to go ahead. But if the answer is no, perhaps you need to reconsider your actions.

I also urge you to obey the traffic laws and never talk or text on a cell phone while driving. Do not occupy yourself with any activity that will distract your attention from the road and never drive after taking any type of medication that could lead to drowsiness or confusion. Please be familiar with the laws as they are there to protect and keep you safe.

Your safety is of paramount concern to your Gloucester Sheriff’s Office, your parents, teachers and friends. In closing, I hope you will continue to be the best that you can be, make wise choices, look out for your friends, and to please, please stay and be safe.

Sheriff Steve Gentry

Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office

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