The Red Ribbon Campaign began in 1985, following the death of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Kiki Camarena who died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while fighting the battle against illegal drugs. Its mission is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a drug-free America. The campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, each year reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31.
Throughout the district, schools planned substance use prevention activities, encouraging students to say no to drugs.
Schools such as Enterprise Learning Academy, and Arlington, Greenfield and West Jacksonville elementary schools hosted week-long activities that reinforced being drug free.
Students wore their clothes inside out with the message “Don’t Let Drugs Turn You Inside Out,” displayed some cool sunglasses as they “shaded out drugs,” joined the
'Drug-free Team' by wearing their favorite sports uniforms and memorabilia, decorated their school campuses with red ribbons and door banners, and participated in school-wide Red Rally parades.
During the Red Rally parade at Enterprise, students marched around the school displaying posters and banners they made to emphasize the importance of making smart life choices and saying no to drugs.
“Research shows that if you can make a connection to students’ emotions, they have a better chance of learning and remembering,” said Enterprise Principal Sheridan Brown. “Having a whole school participate in a fun and exciting rally where they can shout ‘Just say no to drugs’ will be something they remember for a long time.”
In addition to having a parade, Greenfield Elementary peeked its students’ interests in Red Ribbon week by having a fire truck and helicopter visit the school.
For more information about Red Ribbon Week, visit www.nfp.org/redribbon.htm.
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