Grand Prize

Madison Creek Elementary School
Goodlettsville, Tennessee

Madison Creek Elementary celebrated Red Ribbon Week in a “sweet way.” The school created a life-size, interactive game called Drug Free Land, modeled after Candy Land. Oversized “candy canes” lined the walkway outside, huge “lollipops” decorated the lawn and a mural of the game hung above the front doors. More than 600 students pledged to stay away from drugs by signing and decorating paper cutouts of gingerbread men, which lined the entryway. Inside, the walls were covered in blue and green paper to resemble the background of Candy Land. Colored posterboard was used for the spaces in the game. Along this path, there were three unhealthy stops and three healthy stops. In each of these areas, students performed skits to teach game players about choices.

The first people to go through the game were judges of a countywide decorating contest. They arrived to find several hundred students, faculty, staff, and parents playing board games
in the parking lot, dressed in red and wearing Positive Promotions stickers. After the judges made their way through Drug Free Land, they ended up in the school’s gym, which had been transformed into Camarena’s Clubhouse. The clubhouse featured red balloons and a Positive Promotions banner. Red and white confetti came raining down, and students sang a song about being drug free. The school won the decorating contest.

Second Prize

Vineyard Elementary School
Templeton, California

The student body teamed up against drugs at Vineyard Elementary. The school held five dress-up days, with the last one involving uniforms from sports teams and other activities. Students signed football-shaped pledge cards and taped them to a paper goalpost in the cafeteria that read “It is our goal to be drug free.” Also, classrooms teamed up against each other in a poster contest. Winners received free bowling and a Jamba Juice party.

Throughout the week, special guests visited the school. Olympic
silver medalist Gina Miles shared her goals and encouraged everyone to stay away from drugs. Members of a college soccer team spoke about having a healthy lifestyle and entertained the audience with some fancy footwork. The team handed out mini kickballs from Positive Promotions. A sheriff’s deputy made an appearance and pulled the winning ticket in a drawing; he awarded the grand prize of a roller skating party as well as a Positive Promotions water bottle and high flyer disc. The high school’s football team taught the elementary children a rally chant and the cheer squad performed a drug free cheer. They said they couldn’t play football or be cheerleaders if on drugs.

Third Prize

Callahan Elementary School
Callahan, Florida

The theme at Callahan Elementary was “Making Strides To Lead A Drug Free And Healthy Lifestyle.” Giant footprints decorated the hallway floors. The footprints had anti-drug slogans, such as “Drugs Will Get You Nowhere.” Smaller footprints adorned the front entrance, water fountains and lunchroom windows. Students were advised to make footprints worth following. The week started with a school spirit assembly. The next day the school turned red; classes with 100% of students wearing red received Positive Promotions stickers and wristbands. For “Walk Away From Drugs Day,” students spent their 30-minute recess on the PE track. Some children participated in foot races while others counted their steps with pedometers. Everyone received “Drug Free: The Healthy Way To Be” bookmarks. Later in the week, students and teachers made more strides against drugs by marching in a character book parade.

Honorable Mention

Trinity Episcopal School
Houston, Texas

Due to the national elections, Holy Trinity chose red, white and blue for Red Ribbon Week. The school used “I Elect To Be Drug Free” ribbons and Uncle Sam “I Want You To Be Drug Free” posters, both from Positive Promotions. A student even dressed up as Uncle Sam to do daily announcements. One of the favorite events was “Dress-Up Your Teacher Day.” Students brought in red clothing and accessories to put on their teachers. The teachers’ outfits were judged and the “best dressed” were awarded Starbucks gift cards; their classes were given treats. Another day had the theme “Rock And Roll Drugs Away From This School.” Students wore 50s and 60s attire. The school also held a unique door decorating contest. The materials had to be recyclable, which sent the message that Holy Trinity is against drugs and for recycling.

Balloon Time

What goes up must come down. Balloons released into the air return to the Earth and become litter. Animals may be harmed by either swallowing the balloons or getting tangled in the strings. Here are some suggestions for enjoying the Red Ribbon Week Celebration Balloons without releasing them.

• Create static electricity with balloons and see how many will stick to a person at once.

• Tie a balloon onto each ankle of the students; have them work together to pop the balloons.

• Put inflated balloons in a jumping castle for extra fun.

Door Decorating

Here are some additional theme ideas submitted by our customers.

• Drugs Don’t Haunt Our Houses:
have students color paper haunted houses.

• Hop Away From Drugs:
show pictures of different types of frogs.

• Use Your Head, Just Say No To Drugs:
write anti-drug sayings on speech bubbles and attach to skulls.

• Give A Hoot About Staying Drug Free:
let everyone each sign an owl cutout.

• Here’s The Scoop–We’re 2 Cool 2 Do Drugs:
make ice cream cones with construction paper and Styrofoam balls.

• Don’t Let Drugs Take You Out Of The Game:
show a baseball diamond.

Give Them A Hand

Hands, instead of voices, made Hubbard Elementary School’s message loud and clear. “Hand In Hand Let’s Take A Stand” was the sentiment for the start of Red Ribbon Week. The students at this East Berlin, Connecticut, school signed red hand cutouts. Each one pledged “to be a responsible person and make good choices today and every day.” The school took a group photo with everyone holding up a hand. Add to this idea by holding an art contest in which students incorporate handprints into their designs. Give all participants “Real Heroes Are Drug Free” Buttons, and award “Real Heroes Are Drug Free” Dog Tags to the winners.