CELEBRATING BEING DRUG-FREE: AREA SCHOOLS MARK RED RIBBON WEEK WITH ACTIVITIES

Students at St. Denis Catholic School in Benton stretched a ribbon around their school Friday as part of Red Ribbon Week.

Several schools wrapped up Red Ribbon Week in creative style Friday; others are kicking off their celebration this weekend.

Students from schools all around the area are joining in the celebration of a drug-free lifestyle through Oct. 31 and are learning to stay away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco products.

"I'm learning it's bad to smoke or to use drugs or alcohol," said Ashley Seyer, a fifth-grader at St. Denis School in Benton.

Red Ribbon Week was started in 1988 to commemorate the death of Enrique Camarena, a drug enforcement agent killed in Mexico in the line of duty. Parents, educators and local businesses are doing their part to teach students what Camarena was trying to accomplish.

Teachers from Franklin Elementary sent letters home explaining the history of Red Ribbon Week and asking the parents to help their children participate in activities.

"We are basically trying to get parents to transmit enthusiasm also," said Tim Ward, a counselor and the drug awareness coordinator at Franklin.

School drug awareness coordinators pulled from a large list of resources to plan their Red Ribbon events. Red ribbons, drug awareness posters, motivational speakers and fence messages made from Styrofoam cups are only a sample of the activities planned. Other activities included having special prizes, theme days and handing out alternatives to drugs.

Students from St. Denis School and Nell Holcomb Elementary School found unique ways to close their celebrations Friday. Students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades at Nell Holcomb looked on as students from kindergarten through fifth grade performed rap songs that instructed students to stay away from drugs. Students from St. Denis wrapped their school in a red ribbon and said a pledge against using drugs.

"I thought (the raps) were pretty funny," said Jake Hindman, a Nell Holcomb sixth-grader. "It was different from other years, and I thought it was nice."

Sikeston students will work with their community next week to spread drug awareness. "We will have a lot of community support during our week," said Julia Reynolds, one of the Red Ribbon Week coordinators for Sikeston schools. "Everyone looks forward to it. They see it as us all coming together for a common cause."

Reynolds said their activities next week include visits from business mascots, decorating paper bags for local grocery stores, and special messages on several business marquees.

Some schools added a religious message to their activities. Students at Immaculate Conception School in Cape Girardeau said a special prayer last week to help others make good choices, and St. Denis students received a special message during Mass Friday before school.

"Our priest told us to never hurt yourself because of one of the Commandments," said Daniel Schaefer, a fifth-grader at the school. "He said if you do drugs it's hurting yourself, and if you do that you'll be breaking the Commandment."

Educators said Red Ribbon Week has a positive impact on their students. They said that while it is easier to reach the younger students, the older students are still receptive to the message.

"I think (the older students) get tired of hearing this message over and over, but they take it pretty well," said Christy Brumleve, a teacher and one of the coordinators at St. Ambrose School in Chaffee.

Madeline DeJournett, a coordinator for Oran High School, agreed. "I think the reaction is very good at the elementary school," she said. "We were worried about the high school students, but it seems to be impacting there also."

More than 20 area schools are participating in the Red Ribbon Week celebration, which continues through Thursday.