Drug awareness is theme of Red Ribbon Week
When listing strategies for drug awareness education, it would be easy to leave putting one's jeans on backward off the list.
But backward attire was in vogue for USD 408 students for "Turn Your Back on Drugs Day" Monday, the first day of the district's Red Ribbon Week drug awareness activities.
Students across the district will participate in a variety of activities designed to blend fun with the serious issue of drug awareness, according to USD 408 nurse Janice Waner.
"We try to get a tie-in, district wide," said Waner, "so that all our students are involved."
Clothing-themed days for the week include wearing crazy socks for "Sock it to Drugs Day," sports team shirts for "Team Up Against Drugs Day," and red shirts for "Say NO to Drugs Day."
While Marion High School and Marion Middle School classes will have learning activities directly related to aspects of drug awareness and usage, Marion Elementary School students also will have awareness activities tailored to their level of understanding.
"Our emphasis will be on drug safety," said MES principal Stan Ploutz. "We're tying it in to our other recent activities on fire safety, personal safety, and awareness."
MHS and MMS students will also be out in the community scavenging for over 100 red ribbons hidden on Main Street by the Marion Kiwanis Club. The students who collect the most ribbons will receive prizes, according to Waner.
"We're trying to make Red Ribbon Week more visible in the community," Waner said.
