Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Area Students Send Anti-Drug Message

By Daneesha R. Davis
The Winchester Star

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When Olivia Truban got up for school Tuesday, her mom had a special outfit picked out for her: A pink and brown giraffe-patterned shirt with zebra-striped pants and white socks with red hearts.

Olivia’s bizarre attire was part of her stance against drugs for the “Drugs and I Don’t Match” theme at Winchester’s John Kerr Elementary School.

John Kerr Elementary School students Xavian Bell (from left), Olivia Truban, Courtney Hollins, and Omar Nicholas-Jose wear mismatched clothes Tuesday to take an anti-drug stance. Joining in the National Red Ribbon Week event are the school’s fashion-challenged principal, Anita Jenkins, and lead teacher, Bob Smith.
(Photo by Rick Foster)

Schools in the city, as well as Frederick and Clarke counties, are celebrating National Red Ribbon Week through Friday.

Many schools are using theme days that students can relate to in order to put drug awareness on the front burner. On Monday, Frederick County students wore their favorite hats to “Put a Cap on Drugs” day at James Wood Middle School, and for Tuesday’s “Team Up Against Drugs” day, they donned their favorite sports jerseys.

“The theme shows while they get to dress up, they’re still supporting a cause and getting a message out there to live drug-free lives,” James Wood teacher Matt Wygal said.

National Red Ribbon Week serves as a tribute to a Drug Enforcement Agency officer, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed 20 years ago by drug traffickers in Mexico. The outpouring of grief following the murder produced a tradition of wearing red or red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs.

Red Ribbon week is typically held the last week in October.

The National Family Partnership estimates that more than 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events each year.

The message seems to be getting across. Surveys indicate that drug use among teens is decreasing, especially with marijuana. And recent studies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse note a decrease in the use of cocaine, cigarettes, and crystal methamphetamine among middle school-age children.

Judy McKiernan, Safe and Drug-Free coordinator for Winchester Public Schools, said the community needs to celebrate a healthy lifestyle and let kids know that it’s a great choice not to use drugs.

She added that Red Ribbon Week is a celebration of the positive things in life, such as hobbies and friends.

John Kerr Elementary School second-graders Caroline Skiles (left) and Olivia Dechristopher show off their mismatched attire during the school’s “Drugs and I Don’t Match” theme day.
(Photo by Rick Foster)

At Orchard View Elementary School in Frederick County, students will “Give Drugs the Slip” Friday and wear their favorite slippers. On Monday, the school’s Halloween theme will be “Say Boo to Drugs” and students will wear black and orange.

In Clarke County, D.G. Cooley Elementary School teachers are doing individual classroom activities. School-wide, everyone participated in a poster contest sponsored by the Winchester-based anti-drug organization CLEAN Inc.

Principal Brenda Jones said the posters illustrate the benefits of staying away from drugs. They are displayed in the school’s hallways.

Jones said teachers try to focus on good health habits overall. “We want our children to be physically fit, eat right, and do those things that will help them to stay healthy and live a long life.

“There are choices they’ll have to make, and we want them to be able to make good choices when with peer groups,” Jones said.

At James Wood High School in Frederick County, students are wearing red ribbons throughout the week.

And at Stonewall Elementary School in Clearbrook, students are turning their backs on drugs by wearing their clothing backwards.

Susan Homan, president of the Parent Teacher Organization at John Kerr Elementary, said it’s important to teach drug awareness at an early age.

“If they’re ever in a situation and they have to make a choice, hopefully they will make the right choice and remember the Red Ribbon Week importance that they learned in elementary school,” Homan said.