Red Ribbon Event Idea Guide • October 23-31, 2011 Early Bird Edition

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Hull Elementary School in Chandler, Arizona, took Twin Day to a new level. Rather than having students pair up and dress alike, they asked them to join with even more friends to wear similar clothes. The school called it Multiplicity Day. Instead of seeing double, teachers and staff saw triple and quadruple. If you decide to hold a Multiplicity Day, consider ordering “Team Up Against Drugs” or “Friends Don’t Let Friends Do Drugs” Friendship Bracelets. Give a bracelet to each student who participates.

PAWSing To Appreciate Pets

Cornerstone Elementary School in Sugar Land, Texas, planned its Red Ribbon Week around the theme Paws-itively Drug Free. One example of the theme being carried out was Friends Helping Friends Stay Drug Free Day. Students brought in photos of themselves and their pets. The school created a display of the photos with paper paw prints in the corners and paper cutouts of animals around the edge. The display was titled Pet Pals. For your version of this activity, present a “PAWS-itively Drug Free” Die-Cut Bookmark to each student who brings in a photo. Enter all students into a drawing for “PAWS-itively Drug Free” Dog Tags.

Wristband Rewards

Event organizers at Killybrooke Elementary School reached out to businesses in Costa Mesa, California. They developed a program in which the businesses gave special offers to students who came in wearing anti-drug bracelets during Red Ribbon Week. For example, a sub franchise gave away a free drink with the purchase of a sandwich, and a pizza restaurant offered “buy one pizza, get one free.” The school supplied its students with the bracelets on Monday morning. The new “Stay On Track For Success Drug Free” or “Celebrate Red Ribbon Week…Not Just For A Week But For Life” 2-Sided Red Silicone Awareness Bracelets would be great for a similar program in your own area.


Parental Guidance

During Red Ribbon Week, parents with children attending Boiling Springs Elementary in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, were given homework to complete to reinforce the importance of drug awareness. One question was sent home each night, such as “How and when did Red Ribbon Week begin?” or “As a parent, what can you do to help prevent your child from using drugs?” The parents were supposed to answer each night’s question, then discuss with their child. Classrooms earned points on the parents’ homework returned to the school. The class in each grade level with the highest amount of points won a popcorn party and extra recess. For your own parent homework rewards, try using “Say Peace Out To Drugs” Water Bottles and “Say Peace Out To Drugs” Backpack Clip/Zipper Pulls.

Nothing To Laugh About

Brentwood Elementary School in Plainfield, Indiana, helped students bring out their inner cartoonists. They were asked to each complete a comic strip that showed a dialogue between characters saying no to drugs. And they were given Red Ribbon Week Sparkle Foil Pencils to write with. The students shared their comic strips in class later in the week. Some youngsters acted out their scenes. Everyone received “Celebrate A Drug Free Life” Gold Foil Stickers.