LOCAL SCHOOLS KICK-OFF RED RIBBON WEEK

Red Ribbons Are Being Handed Out to Students at Local Schools This
Week to Raise Awareness of the Dangers of Drug Use.

It is a time when young people are encouraged to pledge to be drug
free, and when schools have all kinds of activities, such as making
posters, decoration contests for doors and fences on campus, writing
essays, dressing up for theme days, attending assemblies, and much more.

"The red ribbon symbolizes this drug-free awareness campaign created
by former First Lady Nancy Reagan in memory of Drug Enforcement Agent
Enrique Camarena, who was killed by South American drug traffickers.

The theme this year is 'What's Your Natural High' in partnership with
Californians for a Drug Free Youth," according to Marian Gage, Health
and Safety Coordinator at the Butte County Office of Education.

The Venture Club is decorating Central and Ishi Hills classroom doors
with red ribbons and are hosting "Live Tobacco Free" activities
during lunch for the sixth graders at Ishi Hills and seventh graders
at Central Middle School.

The Ishi Hills' parent club supplied wrist bands for all Ishi Hill
students and prizes will be given if students wear them all week.

The Venture Club presidents, Ashley Quiroz, eighth grader,and Reagan
Keeler, seventh grader, will be speaking along with a presentation by
another Venture Club officer, Andrew Brewton.

The Student Council officers at Central Middle School made Red Ribbon
Week posters for the classrooms and purchased red ribbons for the students.

Las Plumas High School's Resource Officer Will Brewton and his dog,
Zeus, who is trained to find drugs will do a demonstration.

Popular and Plumas Avenue Schools had assemblies for fifth graders by
the Youth Alive organization, which focused on making good choices,
responsibility, being a good friend, good character, never giving up
your dreams; and how drugs and alcohol can keep you from making
positive choices.

Poplar and Plumas schools are also decorating their campuses with
banners and pennants saying, "We are too cool to do drugs," and
"Reach for the Stars, Not Drugs." Students will be given special
bookmarks, stickers, and pencils that help promote talks in their
classrooms on how good friendships can keep you on the right path to
achieve your dreams and keep healthy.

Butte County Office of Education's Robert Dresden visited 4th and 5th
grade classrooms talking to students about the damage caused by using tobacco.

Students will also be able to sign a personal pledge not to use drugs
or alcohol and can take this pledge certificate home to show their
parents and talk about what Red Ribbon week means to them, Marian
Gage said in a BCOE press releases.

The California Red Ribbon coalition, comprised of education,
government, private, and non-profit anti-drug organizations, have
developed and promoted programs to educate people about drugs. To
obtain a copy of a DVD delivered through the California
Parent-Teacher Association to educate parents, caregivers and
educators with the latest drug and healthy living information, visit
the Sundt Memorial Foundation at www.sundtmemorial.org to order a
copy of "Natural High 2: Red Ribbon Edition."

Red Ribbon week is coordinated by the Butte County Office of
Education Partners in Health and Safety along with local school
districts and the Butte County Department of Behavioral Health's
Prevention Unit.