Red Ribbon Week x 4

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.

Nothing To Laugh About

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

Proudly Serving

Honoring veterans during Red Ribbon Week is becoming more popular. “Heroes Are Drug Free” Theme Day Stickers and “Real Heroes Are Drug Free!” Patriotic Silicone Bracelets were created with this in mind. Mesnier Primary School in St. Louis, Missouri, expanded the concept. The school’s Character Crew interviewed one hero a day and broadcast the video to the students. The heroes included a veteran, soldier, police officer, firefighter, and school nurse. Students worked on banners and flags with the theme “Real Heroes Are Drug Free” to be waved during an indoor parade. These youngsters lined the hallways while 100 heroes, many in uniform, paraded through the school. Parents, children’s everyday heroes, were part of the group being honored.

PAWSing To Appreciate Pets

Cornerstone Elementary School in Sugar Land, Texas, held a “Friends Helping Friends Stay Drug Free Day.” Students brought in photos of themselves and their pets. The school created a display titled “Pet Pals” of photos with paper paw prints in the corners and paper cutouts of animals around the edge. For your version, present a “PAWS-itively Drug Free” Die-Cut Bookmark to each student who brings in a photo. Enter students into a drawing for “PAWS-itively Drug Free” Blinkie Dog Tags.

Squash Drug Abuse

Students at Little Rock Job Corps in Little Rock, Arkansas, range in age from 16 to 23 years old. Their goal is to get a diploma or GED and prepare for a trade. Red Ribbon coordinators there mixed community service into the week. Students carved pumpkins, then brought them to Little Rock Children’s Hospital and Woodland Hills Healthcare & Rehabilitation. The patients got to visit with the youngsters. If you organize a similar activity, “Say Boo To Drugs” Lollipops and “Say Boo To Drugs” Heat-Sensitive Pencils would add the perfect touch.

Parental Guidance About Drug Awareness

Parents with children attending Boiling Springs Elementary in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, were given homework 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” Backpack Clip/Zipper Pulls and “Say Peace Out To Drugs” Mood Changing Cups.

Ready To Rock

Coulterville Unit School District #1 in Coulterville, Illinois, rocked Red Ribbon Week. Everything tied into a rock ‘n’ roll theme. The school used our “A Drug Free Life Rocks” Red Satin Ribbons, “Our School Rocks Drug Free” Banner, and several other Positive Promotions items. The week ended with an Air Rock Jam in which grade levels 7 through 12 performed. The students’ time spent choreographing and practicing their rock songs was evident. Then the teachers performed a rock medley. As a finale, a lively song was played; students and teachers filled the gym floor and danced around.

Red Ribbon 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.

Very Red Proclamation

Involve others outside of your school in Red Ribbon Week. Mt. Vernon Elementary School in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, submitted a “Wear Red Day” proclamation to the county judge executive. He approved it and declared October 26 as “Wear Red Day” for the entire county. In celebration, RRW organizers hung 60’ Red & White Stringed Pennants in the front foyer of the school. They sent letters to area businesses, asking them to participate. And they supplied “Wear Red Day” Theme Day Stickers for the business owners and employees to put on.

There’s No Place Like Salem

At South Salem Elementary in Salem, Virginia, students, teachers, and staff followed the yellow brick road to a drug free life. The school was decorated with posters and characters from the Wizard Of Oz, and the soundtrack played during every lunchtime. Students put their names on paper ruby red slippers. Each day had a title with matching handouts: Dorothy Day, Twister Day, Scarecrow Day, Tin Man Day, and Lion Day. Develop your own Oz-related activities. Perhaps “Don’t Let Drugs Twist Your Mind!” Twizzlers would fit right in. Another nice choice would be the “My Character Matters” 5-Pencil Set, which includes a pencil on courage.

Dreaming Of A Bright Future

You can live the dream…if you don’t use drugs” was the message at Skyview Elementary in Yukon, Oklahoma. To express this, students dressed in outfits from their dream jobs. The school was filled with future doctors, rock stars, insurance agents, and much more. For your own dream job dress-up day, distribute “Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It Drug Free” Theme Day Stickers ahead of time as a reminder. On the actual day, give “My Future Is Bright Drug Free” Glow Bracelets to students who dress up.

No Good Deals With Drugs

Pawnee Heights Elementary in Burdett, Kansas, capitalized on the popularity of a current game show to reach students. The school acted out “Deal Or No Deal” using paper briefcases. The “contestant” chose a case, then was shown the contents of other cases opened by students playing the “models,” such as an X-Box or laptop computer. The “banker” tempted her with things like looking cool by smoking and freedom from stress with beer. The contestant stayed strong and kept her own case until the very end, a case which held “a long, healthy, happy life.” Your students could reenact this game, too. Reward them for participating and for making good decisions with “My Life, My Choice” Red Satin Ribbons or “My Life, My Choice” Bookmarks.

Clueing In Parents

Combating the drug epidemic will take a united effort, especially from parents. Organize a presentation for them. Martin Walker Elementary School in Copperas Cove, Texas, had a police detective speak. He talked about several drugs and their effects on the body. He gave clues to identify drugs in the home and told parents the signs that might indicate their children are using drugs. If you hold a similar presentation, give each parent a “Join The Fight Against Drugs” Button to wear before you start. At the end, distribute the items in the “Join The Fight Against Drugs” Theme Kit for parents to take home and share with family members.

Time Well Spent

Many people plan a night out on the town. In Aurora, Illinois, relatives of students at Homestead Elementary were encouraged to have a Family Night In. The night was designed for staying home and spending time together. Some suggested activities were reading, playing games, cooking a special meal, carving pumpkins, and hanging up fall decorations. Afterwards, when students returned slips of paper saying how their families spent the night, they were entered in a drawing for prizes. If you hold this event, consider giving an “I’ve Got Better Things To Do Than Drugs” Ribbon Sticker to everyone who returns a slip. Use “I’ve Got Better Things To Do Than Drugs” Safety Reflective Bracelets as some of the prizes.

The Magic Of Music

Hans Herr Elementary School in Lampeter, Pennsylvania, turned to music to make its Red Ribbon Week a success. Organizers wanted students to “tune out drugs.” Pledge posters said “We promise to march to a drug free beat” and showed a marching band drummer. Children signed the posters, which were placed outside each classroom. Every morning, a gong rung over the loudspeaker. This got everyone’s attention for a mini lesson about drugs. A musical presentation always followed the lessons. These presentations consisted of performances by band members, the instrumental teacher, the band director, and chorus members. For a perfect accompaniment to a week of music at your school, try the “I Tune Out Drugs” Bookmark or the “I Tune Out Drugs” Value Packs.

Something To Say

The Lions Club of Truckee, California, sponsored a bumper sticker contest. The group challenged students at Alder Creek Middle School to create anti-drug, tobacco, or alcohol words and artwork. The students were limited to a 3" x 11" size.The winning design became an actual bumper sticker. The first-place contestant received a $100 savings bond, second-place $75, and third-place $50. To coordinate with the contest, the school distributed “Color My World Drug Free” Heat Sensitive Pencils and “Color My World Drug Free” Silicone Bracelets.

Stuck On Stickers

Cala Elementary School in Thorndale, Pennsylvania, made its own red bookmarks. On them were circular outlines. Teachers had a bookmark for each child. They attached the appropriate theme day sticker to the bookmark if a child took part. The school used five different stickers, including “Stay In The Game, Be Drug Free” and “Being Drug Free Is No Sweat” Theme Day Stickers.

Daily Dose Of Winning

The prizes were plentiful during Red Ribbon Week in Big Lake, Texas. Each day at Reagan County Elementary School, a counselor drew the names of 30 students who had participated in Red Ribbon Week activities. These students won prizes purchased from Positive Promotions. One of the qualifying activities was a Red Ribbon Roundup. This involved youngsters wearing Western clothes. If you hold a daily drawing, remember that Mini Basketballs and Mini Footballs make excellent prizes.

Famous Examples

Red Ribbon Week has made its way into Belmont Pines Hospital, a behavioral health facility in Youngstown, Ohio. Youth patients were asked to each pick a celebrity who has a chemical dependency issue. Their assignment was to first learn about these troubled stars (staff provided articles), then write letters to them. Patients wrote how they felt and what a role model should be like. At your organization or school, expand on this exercise. Hand out a “Make Footprints Worth Following” Red Sparkle Pencil and Red Satin Ribbon to each participant.

Caught In The Act

Acting out situations can be a great teaching tool. At Blue Ridge Elementary in Ararat, Virginia, sixth and seventh graders chose scenarios, created by law enforcement, to re-enact. The reenactments taught consequences of illegal activities. Students “caught” using alcohol and drugs or selling drugs were arrested and handcuffed. They appeared before the magistrate; some made bail, some went on trial, some went to jail. Students who “overdosed” were rushed to the emergency room where the Ararat Rescue Squad was waiting. Not all of the students could be revived. After the scenarios had been played out, the students received gifts, such as water bottles and dog tags. This year, “I Elect To Be Drug Free” Water Bottles and “I Elect To Be Drug Free” Dog Tags would be particularly fitting.