CEREMONY IS CENTRAL TO DRUG FIGHT

A ceremony marking Red Ribbon Week will take place at 10 a.m.
Wednesday at the Educational Support Center in Sanford.

The event will include appearances by Seminole County Public Schools
Superintendent Bill Vogel, School Board Chairman Jeanne Morris,
Seminole County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Harriett and DEA agent
Steve Collins. Master of ceremonies will be Dave Medley of Seminole
County's community-assistance program.

There also will be performances by the Seminole County Sheriff's
Department Cadet Program Color Guard and the Seminole High School Gospel Choir.

The catalyst for Red Ribbon Week was the kidnapping and murder of DEA
agent Enrique Camarena by drug traffickers in 1985.

After news of the tragedy spread, the National Federation of Parents
for Drug-Free Youth saw an opportunity to unite Americans in their
efforts to combat the destruction caused by alcohol and other drugs.

The Red Ribbon became a nationwide symbol of intolerance for drugs in
schools, workplaces and communities.

In Seminole, students in fifth through eighth grades will participate
in a poster and essay contest sponsored by the State Attorney and
Sheriff's Office.

The Safe and Drug Free Schools office also is sponsoring a poster
contest for kindergarten through fourth grade and a Public Service
Announcement contest for elementary, middle and high school students.

For more information, call Lisa Page at 407-320-0552, Tony Durrum at
407-320-0317 or Patty Fritch at 407-320-0316.

Free Tutoring

Seminole County Public Schools is offering free tutoring.

Supplemental Educational Services -- or SES -- is available after
school or on weekends for children who attend Hamilton, Idyllwilde,
English Estates, Goldsboro, Spring Lake, Midway, Pine Crest,
Altamonte and Lake Orienta elementary schools, as well as Rays of
Hope Charter School.

Children at those schools who qualify for free or reduced-price
lunches are eligible for extra help in reading, math or writing.

Parents will be able to choose a tutor who has been approved by the
Florida Department of Education.

Tutors will explain their program and answer questions during a
"Provider Fair" from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Boys and Girls
Club, 325 Station St., Altamonte Springs.

For details, go to www.scps .k12.fl.us/SES/index.cfm or call Anjani
Mohabir, the district's SES administrator, at 407-320-0252.

World Record Reading

Jackson Heights Middle School is trying to make its way into the
Guinness World Records by participating in an effort to have the most
people reading aloud.

Students gathered Sept. 28 to read aloud, with more than 20 people
documenting the feat.

Jackson Heights Principal Winston Bailey met the official witnesses
and assigned each a location.

After the read-aloud was completed, they completed forms in the
presence of a notary. The documents were sent to Tallahassee, and the
results should be revealed in a few months.

"The kids seemed to really enjoy it and they were excited to
participate in the reading, which took about two minutes at the
most," said Connie O'Hanlon, who coordinated the event.

"After it was over, I told some of my friends that I felt like it was
a wedding. Plan for six months and it's over in 20 minutes."