Pubdate: Tue, 23 Oct 2007
Source: Tracy Press (CA)
Copyright: 2005 Tracy Press
Contact:  http://www.tracypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3862
Author: Danielle MacMurchy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

A STRONG ANTI-DRUG WEEK

Schools Try To Make Week-Long Anti-Drug Message Fun For Young Students.

Everything's a little topsy-turvy this week in local  schools as they 
celebrate the anti-drug Red Ribbon Week  with goofy dress-up days, red 
bracelets, assemblies,  decorated classroom doors and raffle prizes.

The idea is to let students know about the dangers of  drugs through fun 
activities. Fifth-grade students in  local school districts learn how to 
say "no" to drugs  and alcohol through D.A.R.E., but for younger 
students,  Red Ribbon Week is the first taste of drug education.

Central Elementary School second-grade teacher Katie  Jepsen convinced more 
than three-fourths of her class  to dress in mismatched clothes for 
Tuesdays' theme,  "drugs and I don't mix."

Central Elementary second-grader Justin Nelson zipped  up his hooded 
sweatshirt backward to show he understood  the week's anti-drug message.

"Drugs are nasty," 6-year-old Justin said.

Central School principal Nancy Link looks over one of  the colorfully 
decorated doors for Red Ribbon Week.  Photo by Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Each teacher at Central Elementary decorated classroom  doors to send a 
similar message. Jepsen warned her  students, "don't get caught in the web 
of drugs," with  a Halloween-themed door. Another teacher pasted 
party  hats on her door and posted the phrase, "life can be a party without 
drugs."

"It's really uncomfortable," 7-year-old Madison  Hoskinson said of her 
outfit - a T-shirt turned  inside-out and jeans on backward. "It shows that 
drugs  are bad and we're supposed to never do them."

Central Elementary and other area schools will have  dress-up days the rest 
of the week, including pajama  day under the theme "smarties follow their 
dreams," and  red-sock day - "sock it to drugs."

The first Red Ribbon celebration was organized in 1986  to honor Enrique 
"Kiki" Camarena, an agent with the  U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 
who was kidnapped  and killed while investigating drug traffickers.

"The week makes students aware of something they may  not hear anywhere 
else," Central School Principal Nancy  Link, while she sported one purple 
and one pink  high-heel. "It's good for them to see their role 
models  really set an example."
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