TV Turnoff Week begins tomorrow and students from Montana City, East Helena and all K-8 Helena schools are vowing to break the endless cycle of tube watching, at least for a week.

"It is a very enriching activity for our youth," Montana City School librarian Barb Benish said.

The nationwide event was established in 1994 and Helena area schools joined the effort two years ago.

TV Turnoff Week is dedicated to the belief that people have the power to determine the role that television plays in their lives, according to the TV Turnoff Network Web site. "Rather than waiting for others to make 'better' TV, we can turn it off and reclaim time for our families, our friends and ourselves."

By participating in TV Turnoff Week, students will instead engage in a broad range of activities that foster social, physical, academic and creative development, officials said.

Families who participate sign a contract agreeing to not watch television for the entire week. The contract suggests taping the form to the TV, and then every day recording the activities your family did instead of watching television.

Completed contracts are to be returned to school on May 1, when students then receive 20 raffle tickets. The raffle tickets can be used to enter into drawings at downtown businesses for an array of prizes -- purchased by money donated from parent councils at each school.

For the past couple weeks, teachers and librarians have been teaching advertising techniques and media literacy. Students have discussed and planned alternative activities such as biking, playing board games, working on art projects, baking or reading with friends.

Benish admits that the event is beneficial for adults too.

"It is a time to re-evaluate how we use our time," she said. "In the last few years I started to watch a little more TV than I used to. During this week I can really get lots of books read."

Area schools have different events planned throughout the week. On Monday night at the Montana City School, the library will be open from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for families to enjoy some relaxing time together, Benish said.

Friday is Family Challenge Fun Night and will serve as a closing ceremony of sorts for the week without TV.

The evening of games, races, prizes and snacks runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of the school.

"It is the last day of TV Turnoff Week and we thought it would be fun for families to get out together," Geri Jagger, fundraiser chair for the Montana City School PTA.

Jagger's family joins families across the nation in turning off the TV and will function without being entertained by the television.

"They (her two children) wanted to participate," Jagger said. "They are really excited about family fun night. They helped pick out the games to play."

Helena High School teacher Jill Van Alstyne is offering her students extra credit if they agree to shut off all screens for the week.

Janet Muirhead Hill, Montana author of an award-winning children's series, is visiting St. Andrew School on Friday to talk with students about her books and offer sixth-graders a writing seminar.

Hill's stories may soon be made into a full-length feature film.

An article published in "Pediatrics" in April 2004 said that research suggests television viewing may be associated with decreased attention spans in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children under the age of 2 watch no television.

Suresh Falor, father of Rohit Falor, third grade student at Central School, said his family is participating for the third year.

"Everyone claims we are addicted to TV," Falor said. "I think it is a great opportunity to prove ourselves," he said.

Falor said that the challenge isn't as easy as it may sound.

"It is a difficult task, but in today's involvement, I think it is important we take control and empower the technology and not let the technology take control of us," Falor said.

For more information about TV Turnoff Week log onto www.tvturnoff.org.