U46'S ELLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL MARKS RED RIBBON WEEK

ELGIN -- Fourteen-year-old Raul Armenta dreams of becoming a pilot.

The soft-spoken Ellis Middle School eighth-grader takes honors
geometry, loves playing soccer and -- in his own words -- gives back
to the community through community service.

Armenta has no time to get tangled with drugs and gangs.

"Gangs (are) dumb," Armenta said softly Thursday afternoon when he
and several classmates sat down to discuss the negative effects of
drug use."I don't think you should listen to someone else ... In
gangs you can't go where you want. They talk you into a lot of
stuff."This week, schools across the country are celebrating Red
Ribbon Week, an anti-drug campaign aimed at educating children of all
ages about the dangers of using drugs -- including alcohol -- and
participating in violent behavior.

Ellis Middle School is among at least 30 of Elgin School District
U46' 53 schools participating in the week-long campaign.

Assistant Principal Howard Bolden, described the week's "overall"
theme as learning how to be safe and drug-free and how to handle peer pressure.

"It's important, especially at the middle school age," Bolden said.
"There's a lot of decision-making they will have to do. We want to
make sure they have a solid foundation to make the right decision as
they go along their lives' paths."Throughout the week local law
enforcement officials and athletes spoke to Ellis Middle School
pupils about this positive message.

Among the presenters were members of Chicago Storm -- the city's
professional indoor soccer team -- and a officers with the Elgin
Police Department Gang Unit.

Each day this week also featured a theme aimed at unifying the student body.

On Monday pupils were encouraged to wear red-colored clothes, on
Wednesday to wear "crazy" socks and on Thursday to don a "bad" hair style.

Eighth-grader Ambria Naylor was among the pupils with intentionally
bad hair Thursday, her dark hair clumped in a ponytail at the top of her head.

The 13-year-old, who aspires to become a singer, dancer and actress,
paused on Thursday when asked what she has learned this week.

"Anything you do to yourself, it can affect you," Naylor said after
giving the question some thought."Drugs can affect your education.
You can't get a job if you're doing drugs. You can't buy a house,
you'll live on the street ..."In 2003, 45 percent of students
nationwide in ninth through 12th grades had at least one drink of
alcohol "anywhere," 30 days before being surveyed, according to data
from the National Center on Education Statistics.

That same year, 22 percent of high school students nationwide
reported using marijuana "anywhere," 30 days before being surveyed,
according to the center.

Illinois was among the 20 states for which data was not provided.

There is no real way to measure the number of U46 students who have
used drugs, said Marlene Berman, the district's coordinator for Title IV.

Title IV is a federal student aid program that funds the improvement
and operation of drug and violence prevention programs at schools.

Berman said the district does not survey its students about drug use,
nor does it give random drug tests.

But she said the district has a relationship with an array of support
groups -- including those at area hospitals -- which are available to
students who are caught using drugs or who ask for help.

And when it comes to drug use in school or on school property, Berman
said the district has a zero-tolerance policy.

Berman said students caught using illegal substances on school
property will be suspended. And she said students selling drugs on
school property could be expelled.

"Each situation is different," Berman said. "Even though it might be
a case-by-case situation -- we still do have zero tolerance."