Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Source: Linton Daily Citizen (IN)
Copyright: 2005 Linton Daily Citizen.
Contact:  http://www.dailycitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3277
Author: Andrea McCann, staff writer

BES LEARNS ABOUT DRUGS' DANGERS, SHARES MESSAGE ON BALLOONS

The Bloomfield Elementary School Student Council sponsored several 
activities this week for Red Ribbon Week.

The week and its activities are designed to create awareness among 
youth that it's in their best interest to stay drug-free. BES 
Principal Mary Jane Vandeventer said Red Ribbon Week is a nationwide 
awareness program.

"It's for grades K through six, and the activities are 
age-appropriate," she said. "It's drug education and awareness - fun 
activities in an educational environment."

Among the activities the students participated in was the launch of 
red balloons by all 24 elementary classes. Each had a message 
attached announcing that the school pledges to be drug free. It also 
states that a student launched the balloon in support of Red Ribbon 
Week and asks that anyone who finds it return it to the school. That 
way, the students will know how far their message spread.

Second-grader Emily Bucher said she thought her balloon would make it 
to Bloomington, and her classmate Meaghan Bond thought hers would fly 
to Linton.

The girls said they decorated classroom doors at the school for Red 
Ribbon Week and put up a drug-free sign on the door of Bucher's mom's 
classroom. The students also had "Red Day" on Monday, "Crazy Shoe 
Day" on Tuesday, "Bring a Can of Food Day" on Wednesday, "Red 
Bracelet/Hat Day" on Thursday, and "Career Day" on Friday.

Vandeventer said there also was an all-encompassing safety 
convocation planned for Friday. The program, she said, covered topics 
like strangers, as well as drugs.

Bucher and Bond said they already knew that they shouldn't do drugs, 
and if asked to do so, would "just say no."

"I'd say 'no, because it messes up your brain,'" Bond said.

Vandeventer said the focus of Red Ribbon Week programming at Bond and 
Bucher's grade level is that it's not good for your brain or body, 
that you should never do drugs, you should tell an adult if someone 
offers you drugs, and you should leave and get to a safe area if 
someone offers you drugs.
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