SCHOOLS CELEBRATE RED RIBBON WEEK

WELLINGTON -- This week is Red Ribbon Week, put on by S.A.D.D.
(Students Against Destructive Decisions), throughout the Wellington
School District.

S.A.D.D. will be spreading their campaign against tobacco, alcohol and
drugs and promoting a healthy lifestyle at the schools this week.

S.A.D.D. members will visit elementary schools during the week.
Students at the middle school will be dressing up throughout the week.
Monday is Pajama Day, Tuesday is Crazy Hair/Hat Day, Wednesday is
Sports Day, Thursday is Celebrity Day and on Friday students will wear
Halloween costumes. At the high school there will be several events
going on as well.

New this year is the S.A.D.D. Quilt, which is being made today at the
high school. The S.A.D.D. members will express what S.A.D.D. means to
them on a square white piece of paper, which will go together on a
large red sheet of paper to make a quilt. The community is invited to
view this quilt display, which will be up all week, according to
Juanita Avalos, S.A.D.D. sponsor.

Also, new on Wednesday will be an "empty" coffin, which will have
mirrors inside. Students look into the coffin, see their reflections
and see the message "Don't let this happen to you."

Avalos said this empty coffin display was done at another school and
was found to be very effective and had strong mental and psychological
effects.

She added that WHS Principal Forrest Covey had a very positive outlook
and was very supportive of the empty coffin idea.

On Thursday, high school students will watch a video and on Friday,
the Grim Reaper will visit the school and claim a student every 22
minutes. It is said someone is killed by a drunk driver every 22 minutes.

S.A.D.D. has been operating in Wellington since 1991, Avalos said. The
group now consists of 54 members.