King Philip Regional students and parents are teaming up to provide a variety of new activities and positive messages for area teens to promote wellness and alternatives to partying.

Karen Nardone said the BeSmart Norfolk Plainville Wrentham Wellness Coalition has launched intramural sports programs and plans to add other activities, including movies, a battle of the bands and a fashion show.

The coalition, a partnership of student leaders, parents, and professionals, was conceived after the death of Taylor Meyer at a teen drinking party last October and a series underage parties and arrests that followed.

Nardone said the objectives of the coalition are to create a community of caring adults and responsible teenagers working together to limit access to substances and support good decisions by youngsters.

The group has also held several successful events, Nardone said, including junior and senior prom projects and a parent seminar. "What makes BeSmart unique is that it is student driven, and communitywide, with a broad focus on overall student wellness," said Pam Carrison, a founding member of BeSmart. "The adults are there to provide resources, mentoring, and leadership to the students. All of the programs and activities to date have been student developed and implemented."

Students are taking the initiative seriously, said Jenna Butera, a King Philip Regional High School senior and BeSmart student ambassador.

"There is a lot of student interest in the BeSmart club," she said.

Volleyball, the first in a series of intramural sports programs for high school students, kicked off Sept. 28.

"We have more than 30 enthusiastic students who are playing volleyball two nights a week. The kids are terrific, and they are having a great time," said Tom Howard, another BeSmart member.

Sports offered include include volleyball, Pickle Ball, ultimate Frisbee, and Wiffle Ball. Planned social events include a Friday night coffeehouse, a dinner dance, a fashion show and a "jail and bail" fundraising event.

The BeSmart Wellness Coalition meets 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of every month at King Philip Regional High School. New student and adult members are welcome.

For additional information, visit www.besmart-wellness.org or email info@besmart-wellness.org.