STUDENTS SAY NO TO DRUGS

This week, students throughout the United States have been learning
important lessons on drug and alcohol awareness, starting with wearing
red ribbons and celebrating Red Ribbon Week.

Through a week of activities, scheduled from Oct. 24 to Oct. 29,
students are learning this message through programs, fun activities
and theme days.

The awareness program started for Pleasant Grove Independent School
District, Texarkana, Ark., School District, Texarkana ISD and
Liberty-Eylau ISD with a Citywide Drug Rally held Oct. 18 at the
Liberty-Eylau High School Rader Dome.

Students at C.K. Bender Elementary School in Liberty-Eylau have
continued the message of being drug free this week.

"Tomorrow will be a great finale, our children will dress as story
book characters and be in a parade where each grade will march through
the school," said Joan Strutton, the elementary school counselor.

She said throughout the week students have worn baseball caps
backwards and red ribbons to signify the message of the week.

Students also received pencils donated by the Teacher Credit Union to
signify erasing drugs.

At Fouke Elementary School, students got into the spirit with theme
days, and students wore their clothes inside out on Monday for Drugs
Turn You Inside Out and wore crazy socks to school on Sock It To Drugs
Day.

Even Principal Diann Culver got into the action on Wednesday with a
wacky pair of multi-colored toe socks. Culver said the week is a fun
week for students to receive a message, and a major plus is that
students are getting to see her join in on the fun.

Today, Hugs Not Drugs Day, students are bringing a stuffed toy and
pillow and will read in their classes. Fouke students will also have a
Hugs Not Drugs Pep Rally.

Campuses at Texarkana ISD got into action with events held in
classroom and outside.

On Thursday, students at Spring Lake Park Elementary School got into
action with the Hands Off Drugs Project in their art classes. Each art
class was part of the fun, making hand prints on a long banner
signifying their pledge to stay away from drugs and participate in
positive activities. Students at Texas Middle School participated in
an early morning drug awareness assembly.

Today, Nash Elementary School students are participating in the Follow
Your Dreams program, where K-9 Roby will visit the campus.

Red Ribbon Week is traditionally held the last full week of October
and began as a tribute to Drugs Enforcement Agency Special Agent
Enrique Camarena, who was kidnapped and murdered by drug traffickers
in Mexico.

The week is meant to encourage students to say no to drugs and yes to
setting positive goals. The week is coordinated through the National
Family Partnership and each year over 80 million Americans participate
in Red Ribbon week activities.

In Genoa School District, elementary school students are learning
about alternatives to drugs, said Counselor Deb Spivey.

"It's a big deal and we try to make the kids all get ribbons Monday
and a treat each day," Spivey said. "I visited the classrooms and we
do an activity, watch a video or read a story, and we talk about
saying no to the bad kind of drugs. We also talk about good drugs,
like medicine that cures."

Each day a student is called to the office and if they are wearing
their red ribbon, they receive a prize.

Spivey said the students are responding well to the
message.

"They love it and they are very positive, at this early age they agree
totally that you need to say no to the bad kind of drugs," she said.

At Pleasant Grove Elementary School, students participated in a drug
awareness program for all grades presented by the Dell Miller PMI
Productions and other scheduled activities, said Merida Johnson, the
counselor at Pleasant Grove Elementary School.

"The message is that they have to have the courage to stand up for
what they know is right and being drug-free and saying no to anyone
who wants to give them drugs," said Johnson.