Teen Services was celebrating its fifth annual Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign this month.

This year's campaign theme is, `Sex Has Consequences' and was chaired by staff volunteer, Cheryl Jones, as a result of the death of Rita Smith last year.

The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month committee is comprised of professional volunteers from a variety of social agencies.

This year the committee invited students from all middle and secondary schools, both public and private to participate in an essay, poetry and poster contest depicting `Sex Has Consequences'.

"This year we would like to reach teens directly through an innovative online survey," said Ms Jones.

"The purpose of the survey was to collect information, and assess quantitative and qualitative data.

"The goal is to develop ongoing innovations to combat teenage pregnancy."

We have developed the survey and with the help of Bermynet we will be visiting various schools at the beginning of June.

Teen Services with the assistance of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign committee plan to create a concrete strategy to combat teenage pregnancy in Bermuda.

In the United States and many European countries the month of May is recognised as National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.

More than 300 students across the Island participated in the competition.

The winners of each category were:

Middle School Essay

First Place - Gherdai Hassell - Sandys Middle School

Second Place - Marcelos Thomas - Sandys Middle School

Third Place - Peter-Paul Taylor - Bermuda Institute

Middle School Poetry

First Place - Cie-Al Esdaille - Clearwater Middle School

Second Place - Cara Carter - Clearwater Middle School

Third Place - Shawn-Nae Hollis - Clearwater Middle School

High School Essay

First Place - Tiffany L. Smith - Essay/Poetry - Bermuda Institute

Second Place - Tyshae Raynor - Bermuda Christian Academy

High School Poetry

First Place - Murricea Iris - The Berkeley Institute

Second Place - Dakia O'Brien - Care Computer School

Third Place - Kennette Burgess - The Berkeley Institute

Middle School Poster

First Place - Ellwood Mouchette - Bermuda Institute

Second Place - Janika Fields - Bermuda Institute

Third Place - Tonai Perinchief - Sandys Middle School