Students from
R.V. Daniels and
Susie E. Tolbert elementary schools culminated their Red Ribbon Week celebration with a march against drugs around their neighborhood. Joining the elementary students were the band and drum lines from
Stanton College Preparatory High School and
James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School.
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.
Throughout the week, administrators, teachers and staff encouraged students throughout the school district to “Just say NO!” to drugs and alcohol, and many schools had exciting activities that reinforced being drug and alcohol free.
Organized by teacher Yolanda McCray, the R.V. Daniels students "Put a Lid on Drugs" by wearing their favorite hats, "Socked it to Drugs" with crazy sock day, took out their sunglasses to say "My future is so bright I have to wear shades," and pledged they would "Rather Read Than Do Drugs" by dressing up for storybook character day.
On Friday, students joined their neighbors from Susie Tolbert Elementary, as well as their older peers from James Weldon Johnson and Stanton, to take their message of being drug free to the streets with a high steppin', drum bangin' parade throughout their community.
For more pictures from the Red Ribbon Week activities at Daniels and Tolbert, visit the
DCPS' flickr photostream.
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