Ridgecrest and Crestview Elementary students drug free for Red Ribbon Week
Children learn best when all their senses are engaged. For Red Ribbon Week this year, many of the activities students participated in at Crestview and Ridgecrest Elementary Schools helped them learn an important lesson through what they saw and did, as well as what they heard.
At Ridgecrest, the entire student body, faculty and staff gathered out in the school's field on Oct. 10, where they had a photo taken of themselves spelling out the words "Drug Free." The students also participated in a school-wide art contest, drawing things they would rather be doing instead of taking drugs. Entries included pictures of children playing together, riding bikes, watching movies, hiking and playing Frisbee.
"You can't do all these activities if you're on drugs," PTA Red Ribbon committee member Kellie Engh said.
Older students also had a visit from representatives of the Odyssey House, an in-patient drug rehab facility for youth. An 18-year-old girl who had gone through the program spoke with Ridgecrest students in an assembly on Oct. 13, describing how drugs nearly destroyed her life, and how painful it was to watch friends overdose and die.
Crestview students each received a red balloon on Oct. 19. The entire student body paraded around the block carrying 600 balloons, then tied most of them to the school's back fence and let a few fly away.
"It's to symbolize their commitment to rise above drugs, and remain drug-free," Red Ribbon committee member Jenny DeWaal said.
The mass of balloons was a sight to see, and made a strong statement, PTA Red Ribbon Chair Becky Brown said.
Crestview also got a visit from magician and comedian "Magic Mike" Cottam, who is a major contributor to the state drug and alcohol prevention program Prevention Dimensions. Cottam used his humor and sleight-of-hand skills to encourage the students to know who they are inside, and keep their minds and bodies clean.
Red Ribbon Week is important for students at the elementary level because even though they may be less likely in general to encounter drugs than older students, it is impossible to know what individual kids will face, Brown said. Teaching them to take care of themselves physically and mentally will help them make good choices, and be able to say no when they need to.
"You need to start somewhere," Brown said.
Captions:
1. Ridgecrest Elementary students, faculty and staff spell out an important message for Red Ribbon week. Courtesy of Rick Smith.
2. Students at Crestview Elementary rose above drugs during their Red Ribbon Week with help from 600 red balloons.
