BEAUREGARD SCHOOLS SET FOR RED RIBBON WEEK

Special to the Daily News

Beauregard Parish schools will celebrate Red Ribbon Week Oct. 25-29,
according to Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator Terrie Smith.

Red Ribbon Week culminates Substance Abuse Awareness Month.

It is a time to take a visible stand against drugs and to show a
personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle by wearing or displaying
a red ribbon.

"We want to provide all our students with a safe and drug free
environment, not only in our schools, but everywhere they go," said
Smith. "Red Ribbon Week is part of a comprehensive program that not
only teaches children about the dangers of drugs, but also how to make
choices to be drug-free."

Character education is a major part of the safe and drug-free schools
initiative, according to Smith. Beauregard schools promote the six
pillars of character education - trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

The Louisiana legislature, with the approval of the Superintendent of
Education and BESE, requires that all students in kindergarten through
ninth grades participate in at least 16 hours of substance abuse
programs while 10th through 12th grade students participate in at
least eight hours each school year.

The required hours are incorporated into the comprehensive school
health program.

Students in Beauregard Parish participate in age-appropriate lessons
such as Character Counts, McGruff, Campfire, D.A.R.E., Learning to
Live Drug Free and other programs.

Statistics on drug and alcohol abuse in America are alarming,
especially considering that these problems are being seen at younger
and younger ages, said Smith.

"Research indicates that children and youth who avoid the early use of
alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are less likely to engage in these
and other harmful behaviors as adults," she explained. "For this
reason, we promote safe and drug-free lifestyles in many ways in our
schools including Red Ribbon Week."

Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated in a variety of ways in the parish
schools. Students and staff will wear red ribbons throughout the week
and place banners at their schools promoting Red Ribbon Week.

Many schools will have assemblies and pep-rallies, will wear red socks
to 'stomp out drugs,' and provide other visible symbols of promoting a
drug-free lifestyle.

Some will offer drug-free messages during school announcements while
others will have essay, poster and door decorating contests. Character
Counts lessons will be incorporated into the week at some schools,
while others will give students the opportunity to sign drug-free pledges.

"All of the activities are planned by the schools to emphasize the
importance of the drug-free message and living a character-filled
lifestyle," said Smith.

Schools will compete in a portfolio contest, highlighting the
activities during Reb Ribbon Week at each school.

"We want this week to be fun, exciting and memorable," said Smith.
"The more methods used to proclaim the drug-free message, the better."

Reb Ribbon Week was first organized in 1988 by the National Family
Partnership to honor the life of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who was
murdered while investigating a major drug cartel.

The red ribbon has become a symbol of intolerance towards the use of
drugs and of the creation of a drug-free America.

Beauregard Parish has participated in Red Ribbon Week for the past 15
years.