Red Ribbon Week brings drug awareness to schools

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 23, 2003

A week of awareness and information about drugs will begin on Oct. 27. Red Ribbon Week is celebrated each year in the United States during the last week in October, which fits in with October being Respect Life Month.

The goal of the Red Ribbon campaign is to create awareness and provide information to assist parents, educators and communities in their efforts toward a drug free America. Schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City will provide activities during the week for students.

The week originated in 1985 when Federal Agent Enrique Camarena was murdered by drug traffickers. The red ribbon has become a symbol to eliminate the demand for drugs while promoting healthy, constructive and positive lifestyles.

The use of alcohol and other drugs continues to be a problem among youth. The efforts of home, school and community need to be united to help children make healthy decisions to live a drug free life.

The Catholic Schools of Sioux City, kindergarten through eighth grade, will participate during Red Ribbon Week with themes assigned to each day of the week to help convey the message.

Monday, Oct. 27, will be "United We Stand for a Drug Free Land" day. Students and staff will wear red, white and blue. Reach out day, "We CAN Be Drug Free," will be Tuesday with students and staff bringing in canned goods to be donated to local food pantries.

Wednesday students and staff will wear sports uniforms of school teams and other teams to "Team Up Against Drugs." Students and staff will wear wild and crazy socks as they "Sock it to Drugs" on Thursday. "Be the Best You Can Be" will be Friday's theme with students and staff having a dress-up day.

"It is to promote a healthy and drug-free message," said Brenda Ferrie, principal at Holy Cross School St. Michael's Center. "I think we face a lot more drug issues nowadays. I think they are more out and about. The quicker we teach them about the effects that it can have on them, it is easier for them to say 'no.'"

Each of the different grade levels has a project with a theme. The kindergarten theme is "drugs make you batty," and they are doing things with bats. First grade theme is "bee drug free" and will center on bees. The second graders will be turtles for the week with the theme of "don't let drugs slow you down." "Too bright for drugs" will be the third graders theme with sunglasses. The fourth graders are bear paws to "stamp out drugs."

The fifth graders will "give drugs the boot" signifying cowboy boots. Sixth grade will "reach for the stars, not drugs" as stars. The seventh grade will have the theme of "living drug free is no sweat" their trademark will be sweatshirts. "Tune out drugs" will be the musical theme for the eighth grade.

The Kuemper Catholic Grade Schools including Holy Spirit, St. Angela and St. Lawrence Centers will take part in Red Ribbon Week as well. Each student will have a red ribbon tied on their shoes.

During the week, the different grade levels have a variety of activities planned. There will be a general theme of "Reach for the stars not for drugs." There will be rolls of Smarties candy with "be smarties don't do drugs" labels on them given to the students. They will say a pledge each morning throughout the week.

Prior to Red Ribbon Week, the students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the Kuemper Catholic Grades Schools participated in an innovative substance abuse prevention workshop called Rock In Prevention. This program was presented to the students on Oct. 15.

The workshop used music and high school mentors to teach young people about the adverse affects of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. They also incorporated the 6 Pillars of Character by having students participate in short skits promoting each pillar. The six pillars of character are citizenship, responsibility, respect, caring, trustworthiness and fairness. They are all part of the nation wide Character Counts Program.

Each day during Red Ribbon Week at Emmetsburg Catholic School there will be a different theme for kindergarten through eighth grade.

Monday will be "Hugs, not Drugs" day, so Hugs juice containers will be given to the students. On Tuesday, students will pick a partner and dress alike to "Pair up against drugs." Pencils will be given out on Wednesday to "Write off Drugs." Grandparent's day will also be celebrated on Wednesday as part of the week's events.

"Wash out Drugs" will be the theme of Thursday with bars of soap being handed out. Friday will be "wear red day." The sheriff will also go in to speak with the eighth grade students.

"Our goal is awareness that it is okay to say 'no' and how to deal with peer pressure," said Jean Hyslop, principal at Emmetsburg Catholic. "I think when you present drug free week in a positive way, rather than the no you can't, you are saying here are other ways to think about it. We try to give them things they can do instead."

Sts. Peter and Paul School in West Bend participated in Red Ribbon week during the week of Oct. 20 to 25. On Monday they had and an assembly to kick-off drug free week. The students wore their clothes backward on Monday to "Turn their back on drugs." The students "put a cap on drugs" on Tuesday by wearing a cap. "Give drugs the slip" was the theme on Wednesday and the students wore slippers.

Thursday was wear red day and the students received Smarties to be smart about drugs. They ended the week with "hugs, not drugs, bring a teddy bear" day. The sheriff came to speak to all grades on Friday.