Local Schools Celebrate Red Ribbon Week
By Sarah Naron
Messenger Reporter
Each October, the National Family Partnership (NFP) sponsors the National Red Ribbon Campaign as a means of bringing drug awareness to students across the country. Since its inception in the 1980s, the movement has served as an inspiration to millions around the world.
Following the torturing and killing of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in Mexico in February of 1985, youth and parents across the nation began to don red ribbons to symbolize their devotion to raising drug awareness. The first National Red Ribbon Celebration was sponsored by the NFP in 1988.
“Red Ribbon Week is about a visible commitment to living a safe and healthy drug-free life,” said Grapeland Independent School District Superintendent Don Jackson. “Anything that is taught has a chance to be learned, and it’s a really good deal to set aside time to teach our students about the importance of not using drugs.”
According to Jackson, schools are an ideal place for “positive peer pressure” to take place among students.
“We want to inundate our students with this positive pressure to make the choices that will positively affect the rest of their lives,” he said.
The 2018 installment of Red Ribbon Week will be held Tuesday, Oct. 23 through Wednesday, Oct. 31 with a theme of ‘Life is Your Journey, Travel Drug Free.’ Throughout the week, students in schools nationwide are given the opportunity to dress in various manners to provide an outward symbol of their pledge to remain drug-free.
Dress-up days for Grapeland ISD are as follows.
• Monday, Oct. 22 – Team Up Against Drugs – Wear a team jersey or shirt.
• Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Lei Off Drugs – Wear Hawaiian clothes.
• Wednesday, Oct. 24 – Turn Your Back on Drugs – Wear clothes backwards.
• Thursday, Oct. 25 – Don’t Get Tied Up in Drugs – Wear a tie or tie-dye shirt.
• Friday, Oct. 26 – Maroon Out Drugs – Wear Sandie attire.
Dress-up days for Crockett ISD are as follows.
• Monday, Oct. 22 – Too Bright for Drugs – Wear neon.
• Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Say ‘Peace Out’ to Drugs – Dress like a hippie.
• Wednesday, Oct. 24 – Too Smart for Drugs – Wear a college T-shirt.
• Thursday, Oct. 25 – Be True to You – Wear red.
• Friday, Oct. 26 – Wage War on Drugs – Wear camouflage.
Dress-up days for Kennard ISD are as follows.
• Monday, Oct. 29 – My Character Shines Through, I’m Drug Free – Dress like any Dr. Seuss character.
• Tuesday, Oct. 30 – Too Smart for Drugs – Dress like a nerd.
• Wednesday, Oct. 31 – Hocus Pocus Our Focus is NOT on Drugs – Wear non-scary costumes.
• Thursday, Nov. 1 – Heroes Against Drugs – Dress like a superhero.
• Friday, Nov. 2 – Turn Your Backs on Drugs – Dress like the 80s and 90s.
Dress-up days for Lovelady ISD are as follows.
• Monday, Oct. 22 – Show You’re Trustworthy and Will Say No to Drugs – Wear blue.
• Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Tie Up Drugs – Wear tie-dye.
• Wednesday, Oct. 24 – Put Drugs to Sleep – Wear pajamas.
• Thursday, Oct. 25 – Help Fight Drugs – Dress like a superhero.
• Friday, Oct. 26 – Win the Game Against Drugs – Wear Lovelady attire.
As of press time Friday, Oct. 19, dress-up days for Elkhart ISD were scheduled for the week following Red Ribbon Week, but had yet to be determined.
Information regarding Latexo ISD dress-up days had not been provided as of press time.
Sarah Naron may be reached via email at [email protected].