10/16/09 NEWS RELEASE RED RIBBON WEEK ACTIVITIES PLANNED AT SCHOOLS The war on drugs and alcohol is well documented. It s a battle that s waged everyday, and one of the most recognizable warriors in the fight is the Red Ribbon. During the last full week of October each and every year since 1986, U.S. citizens have worn red ribbons as a symbol of their pledge to live drug and alcohol free. Red Ribbon Week is an initiative of prevention and education about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The National Family Partnership, which coordinates Red Ribbon activities nationally, estimates that over 80 million Americans participate in Red Ribbon events. Many children in schools across the nation are given red ribbons to wear, and the School District of Collier County is no exception. A number of activities are planned throughout the next week and a half (October 20 30). Barron Collier High School (5600 Cougar Drive) (377 1200) Reality Journey, being held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, involves several local agencies including the School District of Collier County and Drug Free Collier working together. It s a re enactment of an underage drinking party that leads to a fatal drunk driving crash. The purpose of the activity is to serve as a deterrent by giving our young people an encounter with the reality of what can happen when they choose to use alcohol and other drugs. Groups of students will move through several scenes including the crash, an arrest, a court appearance, parents responsibility, and the suffering of victims impacted by such a devastating event. At the end of the drama presentation, there will be the REALITY of someone who has actually suffered a personal loss at the hands of drugs or alcohol, speaking to the students on how it affected their life (reservations required).
RED RIBBON WEEK Add one Big Cypress Elementary School (3250 Golden Gate Boulevard W.) (377 6300) Students will wear a Too Cool To Do Drugs ribbon all week. Tuesday, October 27, Wear Mismatched Sneakers: Don t Let Drugs Sneak Up on You ; Wednesday, October 28, Wear Hats: Put a Cap on Drugs ; Thursday, October 29, Wear Red Day; and Friday, October 30, Wear Sunglasses: Shade Out Drugs. Optional activities: contests in each classroom; students writing and signing their own pledge to live drug free; students performing skits on morning news; and designing Red Ribbon Week banners to hang in front of the school and prominent places inside. East Naples Middle School (4100 Estey Avenue) (377 3600) The Student Council has planned Reality Journey from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 (reservations required); Friday, October 23, thru Tuesday, October 27, students may purchase a Say No to Drugs red bracelet, entitling them to dine outside on Friday, October 30; they may also purchase a stamp entitling them to wear camouflage clothes on Wednesday, October 28; Tuesday, October 27, homeroom students will sign drug free pledge cards and decorate doors with them. Doors will be judged on Friday, October 30, and the winning homeroom gets a doughnut/juice breakfast; Wednesday, October 28: Join the Fight against drugs! Wear camouflage clothes to school (must have purchased stamp to participate); Thursday, October 29, Wear crazy socks: Sock it to drugs! ; Friday, October 30, students who purchased a bracelet may eat lunch outside. All monies collected go to Helping Hands fund and student council. Golden Gate Middle School (2701 48 th Terrace SW) (377 3800) Each day there will be a different theme. Tuesday, October 27, help your friends say no to drugs, each student will receive lifesavers at lunch time: "Be a Lifesaver"; Wednesday, October 28, students will be wearing crazy socks: "Sock it to Drugs Day"; Thursday, October 29, students will wear team jerseys or any kind of sports related shirts for "Team Up Against Drugs Day!"; Friday, October 30, students will wear sunglasses on "Shade out Drugs Day." Theme days will be held as a competition and one class per grade level, with the most average participation, will receive a pizza party. In addition, the school will be sponsoring an essay contest where students write about their Drug Free Hero. One winner from each grade level will receive a gift card. First period classes are encouraged to decorate their doors with a Drug Free message by Friday, October 23. The winning door, by grade level, receives ice cream. Drug Free Pledge Banners will be signed through the geography and history classes. These banners will then be displayed in the front office of the school.
RED RIBBON WEEK Add two Lake Trafford Elementary School (3500 Lake Trafford Road) (377 7300) Dress Up Week. The two to three classes in the school with the most participation will win a pizza party. Runner up classes will win a popsicle party. On Friday, October 23: All Red Day, students will wear as much red as possible; Tuesday, October 27: Sock it to Drugs Day, students will wear crazy socks; Wednesday, October 28: Put a Cap on Drugs Day, students will wear a hat or cap; Thursday, October 29: Turn Your Back on Drugs Day, students will wear clothes backwards; Friday, October 30: Team Up Against Drugs Day, students will dress in a sports outfit or All Red Day, students will wear as much red as possible. Other activities: Band Against Drugs Rally and Walk Pre Kindergarten thru 6 th grade. The rally will feature a short speech from the student council president, songs by the chorus, and music played by DJ Mr. Reyna. Walk Banner Contest each class will create a banner to use in the Rally and Walk. There will be banner judging at the Rally with the winning classes receiving prizes. Pledge Banner Signing all grade levels will pledge to be Drug Free and sign the banner in the hallway. Pre K will sign a Hand Print banner created by Ms. Parker. Drug Free Necklaces all students will receive a special, very colorful dog tag with the slogan I Rock Drug Free embossed on the front. Lely High School (1 Lely High School Boulevard) (377 2000) Tuesday, October 20: We CAN Be Drug Free, bring in three canned/boxed food items to get a Simon Sez ticket, and a public service announcement played during announcements; Wednesday, October 21: Clear Your Mind of Drugs Day, wear red, bring in three canned/boxed food items to get a Simon Sez ticket, Simon Sez Comedy Hypnosis Show at 12:45 p.m.; Thursday, October 22: Say Peace Out to Drugs, dress in 60 s/70 s clothes; Friday, October 23: Drugs Destroy Sweet Dreams, wear pajamas to school, vote for Homecoming King & Queen, Powderpuff Championship tickets go on sale for $2.
RED RIBBON WEEK _ Add three Manatee Middle School (1920 Manatee Road) (377 4400) During the week of October 20 23, the student council is sponsoring several activities to get students involved and spread the message of Red Ribbon Week. All homerooms are invited to participate in the Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest. Students will create a door decoration that shows their commitment to live drug free lives. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to make the I Choose to be Drug Free pledge during each lunch period. All students will also hear the message of Red Ribbon Week daily on the morning announcements to raise their awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention. Mike Davis Elementary School (3215 Magnolia Pond Drive) (377 9000) Tuesday, October 27: wear red, white and blue; Wednesday, October 28: Sock it to Good Choices!! wear funny socks; Thursday, October 29: Put a Cap on Good Choices!! wear favorite or funny hat; Friday, October 30: Literacy Day dress up like your favorite book character. Art Classes will create different items: 5 th grade Be a Hero. Be Drug Free poster; 4 th grade I Have Better Things to do Than Drugs traffic signs for teachers to hang; 3 rd grade Publix Bag decorations with a drug free message that will be given back to Publix on Collier Boulevard to distribute during Red Ribbon Week; 2 nd grade Leave Drugs Alone windsock; 1 st grade Do Hugs Not Drugs poster for teachers to hang; Kindergarten Drugs Bug Me hat to wear. Osceola Elementary School (5770 Osceola Trail) (377 7800) The student services committee met and decided to incorporate a daily activity in celebration of the Drug Free Week Across the Nation, Just say NO. Tuesday, October 27: introduce Red Ribbon Week on the news (special guest Corporal Villa), all students wear red, ribbon bracelets will be given to all students and staff to show good character by being drug free; Wednesday, October 28: Join the Fight against Drugs wear camouflage, everyone gets a sticker; Thursday, October 29: I CAN, YOU CAN, WE CAN Being Drug Free Comes in Cans bring a can food in to donate to the Salvation Army canned food drive to show the character of Kindness to our community. Friday, October 30: Put a Cap on Drugs wear a hat. Everyone gets a sticker for Put a Cap on Drugs.
RED RIBBON WEEK _ Add four Palmetto Ridge High School (1655 County Road 858) (377 2400) Reality Journey from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 27. Reservations required. Pelican Marsh Elementary (9480 Airport Road N.) (377 7900) Students will be wearing stick on ribbons on the first day of Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Day will be announced on the morning news. Corporal Rhodes has helped 5 th grade students complete posters for a competition sponsored by the Collier County Parks and Recreation Department. The posters have a message of anti drug, tobacco, alcohol, and violence. Also, on Wednesday, October 21, the school will have the Sheriff s Office Pledge Car on campus for the 5 th graders to sign. The Pledge car will be at the school from 9:30 a.m. until approximately 10 a.m. Pinecrest Elementary School (313 9 th Street S.) (377 8000) The 4 th grade is having a writing contest describing how the Passport to Peace Attitudes (commitment, independence, honesty, respect, and more) can help them live a drug free life. The winner will be announced at the 1 st quarter awards ceremony. Student essays will be displayed at the school. Second grade students are providing Drug Free Posters, and Kindergarten students are making posters using pledge cards signed by all students. These will be displayed at the school during Red Ribbon Week. To learn more, please contact the schools directly. 30