KIDS LEARN MERITS OF STAYING DRUG-FREE

Schools Celebrate Red Ribbon Week With Dress-up Days And Essay Contests

Photo by Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times Corpus Christi police officer
Kelly Isaacks (middle) serves as part of the honor guard firing a 21-gun
salute at a ceremony kicking off Red Ribbon Week Monday morning at Sherrill
Park. Schools celebrate the week, which honors being drug-free, with poetry
and essays contests.

Wood River Elementary School students don't hesitate in coming up with
reasons not to do drugs.

Jackie Matula, a 10-year-old fourth grader, said they turn lungs black.

Gaby Gaona, a 10-year-old fifth grader, said physical endurance is decreased.

And Mathew Gonzalez doesn't think drugs make a person any smarter.

Nell Thompson, a 9-year-old fourth grader, said that drugs hurt a person's
self-confidence.

"I think from the start we should learn about drugs," Nell said. "As soon
(as children) learn to speak and hear you need to start them on the right
path right away. Even before they get into elementary school." Michelle
Christenson/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi Young Marine Jonathan Garcia, 11, attends the Red Ribbon
Week ceremony conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department Monday
morning at Sherrill Park.

The 530 students in the Calallen school joined school districts throughout
the Coastal Bend in kicking off Red Ribbon Week, the program that
celebrates drug-free schools and features everything from poetry and essay
contests to forming human chains to chant "Just Say No" and tying ribbons
around trees. Red Ribbon Week lasts until Friday.

On Monday, the Corpus Christi Police Department kicked off Red Ribbon Week
with a ceremony at Sherrill Park. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute,
the playing of "Taps" by a father-son duo and the national anthem sung by
Jennifer Pena.

Wood River students have been participating in Red Ribbon Week for more
than a decade, but the campaign isn't just anti-drug. It focuses on a
child's self-esteem, said Principal Roseanne Meyer.

"And it's working," Meyer said. "Our discipline referrals are low, and a
lot of our children are a real success in middle school. They aren't into
drugs. They aren't into gangs. And that starts with self-esteem."

The week's events at the school feature days where the students dress ina
theme.

Today is "Get Tied to the Future - Be Drug Free" where the students wear
tie-dyed clothing. Friday is the grand finale; law-enforcement and military
officials will visit the school with drug dogs and helicopters, in which
the students can sit, for "Dare to Dream" day.

Monday began the week with "Sock it to Drugs" and the students wore funky
socks.

"Drugs make you weak," said 6-year-old Jacob Jarvis, shaking his head
slowly side-to-side. "And that's not a good thing."

Staff writer Mary Moreno contributed to this report. Staff writer Stephanie
L. Jordan can be reached at 886-3724 or by e-mail at jordans@caller.com