Before you even got near the gymnasium, you could hear the screams.

Students at Simmons Middle School were taking part in some pretty heated scooter races last week, and judging by the volume level, it was clear they were having fun.

According to Kristi Spitzer, that was precisely the point of a week of fun-filled events that also included pumpkin bowling.

"What we're trying to get across to kids is they can have fun doing . . . things" that don't involve drugs or alcohol, said Spitzer, who is a prevention resource specialist at Aberdeen's two public middle schools through Prairie View Prevention Services, Inc. "The ultimate high sometimes is having fun with friends."

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