Students at Circleville Middle School had a full week of activities during Red Ribbon Week, a week set aside each October to bring awareness to our students of the dangers of drugs and to encourage a commitment to live healthy and drug free.

Students and staff wore red on Monday and staff distributed red ribbons to all. The CVMS PTA donated red masks for all. Students had an informative activity at lunch each day – for example, Do Clubs Not Drugs where information about school clubs was available, and Drug and Alcohol Jeopardy where they answered questions (and learned some valuable information) about drugs.

Students signed the Red Ribbon Pledge:

I pledge to grow up safe, healthy and drug free by:

• Understanding the dangers of drug use and abuse;
• Respecting myself and being drug free;
• Spreading the word to family and friends about the importance of being healthy and drug free.

The pledge cards were turned into a wall mural that said Drug Free Looks Like Me, with students creating it.

The school had a poster contest too! Seventh-grader Sophia Aquino created an awesome poster listing valuable information about the dangers of drugs that she learned in health class.

There were facts and positive statements given each day through announcements, reminding our students that drugs are not the way to go for a happy and healthy life.

The Red Ribbon Campaign began in 1988 when the National Family Partnership honored the life of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena who was killed by drug traffickers three years earlier. Camarena joined the DEA wanting to make a difference and fight illegal drugs and the destruction they cause. Wearing a red ribbon has become a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs. The Red Ribbon Campaign’s mission is to present a commitment toward a drug-free America.