Red Ribbon Week 2011

Red Ribbon Week kicks off today for about 41,000 Marion County school children, who will honor the week in spirit since there are no red ribbons to hand out for the second straight year.
“Unfortunately, we no longer provide the icon for the event — the red ribbon” – district spokesman Kevin Christian said. “However, kids do understand the spirit of the program and continue to participate.”
The anti-drug campaign will go on as scheduled, with a week’s worth of family events and school activities.
The district used to get a 6,000 dollars grant that was used to purchase 45,000 ribbons for students and teachers, as well as dozens of banners.
Red Ribbon Week, which runs October 24-28, is designed to instill the anti-drug message into students’ minds and hearts.
This year’s theme is “It’s Up to Me to Be Drug Free.”
Events include:
1 – Today, 6 p.m. – Kickoff carnival at Ocala Police Department headquarters; free music, food and entertainment.
2 – Tuesday and Wednesday – “Line Up to Sign Up” invites students to sign pledge banners at their school.
3 – Thursday – “We Rule! We’re a Drug-Free School” day gives schools a chance to develop a red-ribbon slogan and display it via posters, door decorations, videos and other creative ways. It also is “Wear Red” day.

Red Ribbon Week 2011
Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week is here at Orange Beach Elementary School! Red Ribbon week is a celebration of living a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. We have many activities scheduled for next week to celebrate.
On Monday, we will celebrate “Career Leaders” by dressing up as your favorite career person. On Tuesday, we will “March against Drugs” with a parade down Wilson Avenue at 10 a.m. Everyone should wear red.
On Wednesday, the theme is “I’m a JEAN-ius/I’m Drug Free.” Everyone wear jeans with a uniform top. On Thursday: “We’re Teaming Up Against Drugs.” Everyone wear their favorite team shirts.
We will also have an assembly on Thursday to meet the Baldwin County Sherriff’s K-9 unit, which will kick off the Red Ribbon Fundraiser, “Pennies for Puppies.” “Pennies for Puppies” will raise money for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to purchase a new canine for drug prevention.
On Friday, we celebrate “Teddy Bear Hugs Not Drugs” by bringing a Teddy Bear and dressing in pajamas.
Miss Freeman’s second-grade class has been studying government in social studies. They wrote friendly letters to Mayor Tony Kennon. Mayor Kennon will visit Miss Freeman’s class on Friday to answer their letters and any other questions about government.This week in science, sixth-graders are learning about the three main classes of rocks. Students will create a poster to illustrate the Rock Cycle and how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are formed.
In social studies, sixth-graders are learning about the new wave of immigrants to the U.S. from 1865-1914 years. Students will research the immigrant experience and create an immigrant profile. Students will then role play the immigrant processing through Ellis Island.
Students will role play the journey, the medical inspection, legal inspection, and money exchange at Ellis Island.

Today kicks off national Red Ribbon Week and many Midland public and private schools will celebrate with various activities and speakers.
The oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, Red Ribbon Week aims to educate children about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse and commemorate the 1985 death of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena, who was killed by drug traffickers in Mexico.
“Red Ribbon Week is a way for the kids and the whole community to come together and unite, take a visible stand against drugs and substance abuse” – said Kim Henderson, a program coordinator for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program.
Pease Elementary Principal Lillian Porter said it’s a very important week where special speakers will come to talk with students about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse.
“We never know what our students go home to and we never know what they’re being exposed to” – Porter said. “It’s important we take time to teach academics, but also teach how to make better choices and to be aware of bad decisions.”
At some point, Porter believes all kids will have the opportunity to do drugs and if they aren’t educated about the negative effects, they may do them out of curiosity.
However, educating kids thought Red Ribbon Week helps kids know the reasons why drugs are a bad idea.
Henderson and her collegues will present in multiple schools this week about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse, with each presentation being a little bit different – she said.
“Wearing the red ribbon shows your commitment to a drug-free lifestyle” – Henderson said. “I think it really helps kids to realize that not everybody is doing drugs, it is good to be drug free.”
To promote the week, many schools will host different dress-up days, speakers and events to encourage participation.
Pease Elementary will hold a drug-free parade at 2:30 p.m. Friday to culminate the week’s events.
“It’s something the boys and girls look forward to and a fun activity for parents to come out and cheer our students on as we make the decision to be drug free” – Porter said.

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