Third Prize

Children’s Community School, Waterbury, Connecticut

Children’s Community School specializes in working with students from low-income families who are socially, environmentally, or academically disadvantaged. For this school, Red Ribbon Week is part of a whole drug prevention month. In 2009, organizers chose “Drug Free I Can Be Anything I Want To Be” as the overall theme. Students designed posters illustrating this concept; the best posters were displayed on a bulletin board with fall leaves and the words “ Don’t Fall For Drugs,” Every door had a sign stating, “Close The Door On Drugs,” and the trashcans had signs proclaiming, “Drugs Are Garbage.” On Friday, children participated in a carnival featuring numerous stations. For example, “Moving Away From Drugs” included potato sack races and musical chairs. “Don’t Throw Your Life Away On Drugs” involved throwing beanbags. In “Fishing For Better Things To Do Than Drugs,” youngsters caught laminated fish that gave healthy suggestions. The school used “Believe, Achieve, Succeed Drug Free” bracelets, stickers, and dog tags throughout the week.