The Smoke Free Partnership Project identifies the transition from primary to post primary schools as a crucial time when smoking is a learned behaviour.  It therefore seeks to support students in making this transition.  To this end, the North Western Health Board developed a parallel project known as 'Health Kicks'.  This is a three year initiative, which encourages post primary schools in the development of policies on smoking, alcohol and drugs and the environment.  Health Kicks encourages and supports schools to consult with all partners of the school system in the development of a school policy.  Within each school site there is a policy committee made up of representatives from the student body, teaching staff, parents and board of management.  The main task of this committee is to prepare and develop a policy that reflects the needs and the messages that are relevant in their school.  This is done by consultation with the whole school community.  The policy committee then decides on how best and disseminate the policy and review its effectiveness at the end of the school year. Year 1 of Health Kicks which took place in 1998 - 1999 focused on smoking and at the end of that year Smoke Free policies were in place in participating schools.  This action announced the arrival of the Smoke Free teens into the post primary school system and supported their choice to be Smoke Free. In addition teachers were offered training on conducting smoking cessation groups within the school site.  Smoking education classes were delivered to students not only in a bid to provide the young people with knowledge and information about smoking, but also to develop integral skills such as decision making and communication. Year 2 of the Health Kicks programme focused on Alcohol and Drugs, while in Year 3, 2000/2001 the focus is on the environment.  Schools this year are being challenged to look at environment in its broadest sense to include the physical, social, cultural and aspects of school life.  This will be done through the development of a School Environment Policy which will include a range of actions which schools can undertake to promote a positive sense of value for individual, whole school relationships and the physical Environment.  Once again the education component will be addressed through existing subjects and schools are asked to further develop the Smoke Free and Alcohol and Drug free policies. Good luck to all Schools involved!