Red Ribbon Week Your Future is Key, so Stay Drug Free. October History

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1 Red Ribbon Week 2017 October Your Future is Key, so Stay Drug Free The Red Ribbon is a symbol of our community s commitment towards the creation of a drug free America. Your school community creates a safe and drug free place where students can learn and grow every day. Thank you for all you do to engage students, staff and families in a week of activities, which focus on healthy drug free lifestyles. The enclosed information packet offers ideas and suggestions of ways your school can celebrate Red Ribbon Week. You may also contact us to borrow resources from our lending library for this week and throughout the year. Share the story of Enrique Camarena with your students and honor his work, commitment and memory. Show your celebration with artwork and fun activities. Let us promote our joy for living healthy lifestyles by teaching children how fun it can be to stay healthy and strong in body and character. History Red Ribbon Week was founded in honor of Enrique Camarena, a drug enforcement agent in Mexico who was tortured and killed by drug traffickers in the line of duty in He grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference. Enrique worked his way through college, served in the Marines and then became a police officer. In honor of Camarena s memory and work, parents, friends, and neighbors began to wear red ribbons of satin and forming coalitions against drug use. Red Ribbon campaigns were organized by the National Family Partnership in 1988, as an effort to protect children from the dangers of drugs. Guilford County Schools and many communities across the nation use this important week to continue promoting and celebrating healthy and drug free lifestyles through a variety of activities within the schools.

2 Ideas for Red Ribbon Week activities 2017 RRW Theme See below for big ideas related to this year s theme: Draw a large outline of a key and have the class post their drawings or statements that represents a drug free lifestyle. Students can list healthy activities, goals and/or their anti-drug (depending on grade level). Have students draw their own key and fill it in with an antidrug message. Cut out the keys and decorate the hall or classroom door along with this year s theme. What Are Your Keys to Success? Essay Contest Daily Themes and Dress Often schools choose to develop a calendar of themes and specified dress items related to substance abuse prevention. This can be fun for the students and staff, while providing a focus for the day and can be enhanced by other activities in the school. Below is a list of ideas for themes of dress: Put a Cap on Drugs Wear your favorite cap or hat to celebrate a drug free life Give Drugs the Slip Wear slippers Team up Against Drugs Wear your favorite team t-shirt or jersey Sock it to Drugs Wear Crazy socks Dress for Success dress to impress Career Day or My future is Bright without Drugs - Dress as what you want to be when you grow up United We Stand Dress in red, white and blue to show your patriotism Join the Fight Against Drugs Wear camouflage Drugs Turn You Inside Out Wear clothes inside out Too Bright to Do Drugs Wear white Lei Off Drugs Wear something Hawaiian Give Drugs the Boot Western wear Living Drug Free No Sweat Wear Sweat clothes Character Day Dress as a character in a book that demonstrates character Peace Out to Drugs Wear 1960 s hippie fashion Don t Flip for Drugs Wear flip flops or sandals Follow Your Dreams; Don t Do Drugs Wear pajamas Educate Yourself About Drugs Wear your favorite college t-shirt Scare Away Drugs Wear a Halloween costume (Be specific about what is allowed)

3 Drug Free from Head to Toe Wear crazy hats and socks Say Yes to Play and Exercise Wear sneakers Say Yes to Healthy Heart & Body Wear red Staying Clean Day Well dressed and groomed while choosing to be drug free Contests & Drawings Daily Drawing All students receive a bookmark on Monday. Each day 10 student names are called out. If the student still has their bookmark, they receive a small prize. Essay / Poem & Poster contest Students are encouraged to participate in writing a poem / essay or creating a poster that has an Anti-drug message. Winning posters can be displayed and winning poems and essays can be shared during announcements. Rap contest Students can create anti-drug raps; the winners can share it with their school. Trivia Activity During morning announcements, a trivia question can be asked about a key statistic or a harmful effect/behavior stemming from drug use, abuse, or addiction. During the day students can submit their answers (collection method to be determined at your school). Students should write their names on the answers they submit. The winners will include the first ten papers chosen with the correct answer. Student s names can be announced and/or a small prize is given. Bulletin Boards & Displays Drug Facts Bulletin Board Post meaningful drug free quotes, images /word art. Red Ribbon Bulletin Board Cover board in red paper and put Respect Yourself. Be Drug Free across the top. Attach a pen on a string and invite staff, parents and students to sign the drug free pledge. Pledge Card Bulletin Board Fill a bulletin board with signed pledge cards. Anti - Drug Bulletin Board Display posters that students have created to spread their anti-drug messages. Anti-Drug Wall Wall space will be reserved for each grade level to post their favorite hobbies and free time activities instead of using drugs/alcohol. Born to be Drug Free Wall Teachers will post their baby pictures on a wall for students to guess which baby pictures match their current teachers faces. Tape pledge cards to wall and spell out an anti-drug message or the title, Red Ribbon Week. Have students sign pledge cards and put in a container to be drawn for a prize at the end of the week.

4 Conduct a Door Decorating contest with an anti-drug / healthy lifestyles message. Winners can be announced at the end of the week. Decorate the school campus with red ribbons. Tie ribbons to car antennas in the school s parking lot. Student groups can cut and put red ribbons in teachers boxes for them to wear during the week. Decorate fences with red cups spelling out Red Ribbon Week or a related theme. Classroom Integration Health classes Focus on healthy choices and decision-making. Guidance lesson Coordinate with School Counselor to provide a guidance lesson in classrooms about healthy choices and positive outcomes. Links for lesson plans and information Use these websites to search for a variety of lesson plans, activities and factual information, many of which have been aligned to the national standards: NIDA for Teens Scholastic Heads Up Other Activities Lunch n Learn Have a table during student lunches with games and brochures to teach facts about drugs. Each day a student or staff member will share a drug fact during school-wide announcements. Set-up a Pledge signing table at lunch or before school. Involve parents by signing pledges, passing out red ribbons or making a banner during sporting events. Host a parent workshop on Helping Your Teen Stay Drug Free or Current Trends in Substance Abuse. Take a Bite out of Drugs Canned food drive Take a Bite out of Drugs Pet food drive Involve younger students in activities using Healthy Choices or other coloring books.

5 Plant the Promise Plant red tulip bulbs as a promise to be alcohol & drug free. Bulbs will bloom in April during Alcohol Awareness month. Each year students can tend to their promise by tending to the garden area. Use this as a touchstone for discussion with students about how healthy decisions are not just a one-time decision but also an ongoing commitment to oneself. Cheerleaders Lead an anti-drug cheer in the gym or at other school events. Middle & High Schools Use your S.M.A.R.T. teams to lead your prevention planning & efforts!