A STRONG ANTI-DRUG WEEK

Schools Try To Make Week-Long Anti-Drug Message Fun For Young Students.

Everything's a little topsy-turvy this week in local schools as they
celebrate the anti-drug Red Ribbon Week with goofy dress-up days, red
bracelets, assemblies, decorated classroom doors and raffle prizes.

The idea is to let students know about the dangers of drugs through fun
activities. Fifth-grade students in local school districts learn how to
say "no" to drugs and alcohol through D.A.R.E., but for younger
students, Red Ribbon Week is the first taste of drug education.

Central Elementary School second-grade teacher Katie Jepsen convinced more
than three-fourths of her class to dress in mismatched clothes for
Tuesdays' theme, "drugs and I don't mix."

Central Elementary second-grader Justin Nelson zipped up his hooded
sweatshirt backward to show he understood the week's anti-drug message.

"Drugs are nasty," 6-year-old Justin said.

Central School principal Nancy Link looks over one of the colorfully
decorated doors for Red Ribbon Week. Photo by Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Each teacher at Central Elementary decorated classroom doors to send a
similar message. Jepsen warned her students, "don't get caught in the web
of drugs," with a Halloween-themed door. Another teacher pasted
party hats on her door and posted the phrase, "life can be a party without
drugs."

"It's really uncomfortable," 7-year-old Madison Hoskinson said of her
outfit - a T-shirt turned inside-out and jeans on backward. "It shows that
drugs are bad and we're supposed to never do them."

Central Elementary and other area schools will have dress-up days the rest
of the week, including pajama day under the theme "smarties follow their
dreams," and red-sock day - "sock it to drugs."

The first Red Ribbon celebration was organized in 1986 to honor Enrique
"Kiki" Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
who was kidnapped and killed while investigating drug traffickers.

"The week makes students aware of something they may not hear anywhere
else," Central School Principal Nancy Link, while she sported one purple
and one pink high-heel. "It's good for them to see their role
models really set an example."