Pubdate: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 Source: Valley Morning Star (TX) Copyright: 2004 Valley Morning Star Contact: http://www.valleystar.com/letters.php Website: http://www.valleystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/584 Author: Amy D. Medellin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Red+Ribbon (Red Ribbon Week) JUST SAY NO Students Build Strong Character In Fight Against Drugs Schools nationwide kicked off Red Ribbon Week with fairs and educational sessions in effort to promote safe and drug-free schools. Although the message has stayed the same -- helping and teaching students to just say "No" -- schools have changed the way the message is presented. Building character and having more student-focused events have replaced larger productions for the drug-free prevention campaign, according to Heriberto Villarreal, director of federal programs for San Benito schools. "Now we have speakers come in and talk to the kids and the curriculum level has also gone well beyond just one week," Villarreal said. "In the past we used to have a parade that went from the schools to the football field and elaborate events like that." Through Red Ribbon Week, school districts try to create good citizens for communities. "It teaches the students not only to give rather than receive, but, through drug awareness, build a strong character," Rio Hondo Elementary School Counselor Virginia Davila said. "We try not to do the same every year." "For instance (Monday), for the first time, we had the U.S. Customs come in and talk to the kids and show them their plane and boat," Davila, Red Ribbon Week event coordinator, said. Schools have also started involving parents to help spread the message. Weslaco schools send home suggested activities for families as part of the campaign. Some include a family breakfast, lunch or dinner, watch and discuss a special movie and set aside time to play in the yard or park. Drug prevention week began in 1985 after a group of concerned community members rallied on behalf of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in California. Camarena was brutally tortured and killed by drug traffickers. Camarena's death was not the first of it's kind, but it was the start of what is now a nation wide campaign, Red Ribbon Week. The red ribbon is worn as a stop sign to violence and drug use and in honor of the blood shed for others. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek