RED RIBBON PARADE HELD AT NYE

In celebration of Drug Awareness Month, Nye Elementary kicked off the
ribbon parades Friday afternoon.

Dressed in bright red costumes, the color of the anti-drug campaign,
students proudly marched around the campus promoting their anti-drug message.

"All year, we are teaching students about the importance of being drug
free, and this parade helps them to be enthusiastic about it," Nye
Elementary Principal Irma Flores said.

By wearing costumes of cowboys, music notes and hippies, the Nye Elementary
students and teachers displayed various themes promoting the drug-free
campaign.

Among the many classes in the event were the fourth and fifth graders of
Sonia Morales.

Holding paper card music notes, the students chanted a "Just Say No Song"
as they marched.

"This parade helps to promote that in daily life students have to be drug
free," Music teacher Sonia Morales said. "It is important that students
don't lose focus on this issue and that they make sure that this is a fight
that must be continued each day."

According to Morales, getting students involved in anti-drug activities and
stressing their importance is essential during the elementary years because
they are less exposed to peer pressure.

"It is important that students learn about being drug free in elementary
because once they get to junior high or high school the message is harder
to get across," Morales said.

The parade was the first of many to come throughout the month as most local
schools will sponsor one.