Schools take part all next week with themes for each day, emphasizing drug-free living
In commemoration of the national anti-drug campaign Red Ribbon Week, Benicia police will wear red ribbons on their uniforms and local schools will encourage students to be drug free, Lt. Scott Przekurat said Thursday.
The campaign began Thursday and continues through Halloween night, he said.
“The national Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985,” Przekurat said.
“This began the continuing tradition of displaying red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs. This mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a drug-free America.”
He said police department employees will wear red ribbon lapel pins, and red ribbons will decorate patrol vehicles.
“Our officers see first-hand the terrible effects illegal drugs can have on kids and adults alike,” Lt. Michael Greene said.
“We support all the efforts from both inside and outside law enforcement to promote a drug-free community.”
Patti Baron, Benicia police community service officer and coordinator of the Youth Action Coalition, said Benicia students will participate in several anti-drug activities that promote the campaign’s slogan, “Believe, Achieve, Succeed Drug-Free.”
“Our goal is to bring awareness to the community and to encourage and empower our students to be drug free,” Baron said.
Benicia High School has assigned a different theme to each day of the week, starting Monday with Pajama Day, with the slogan, “Put drugs to sleep.” Tuesday is Sports Day, encouraging students to wear athletic attire for the theme “Stay in the game, be drug-free.” Wednesday is College Day to illustrate the theme “Too smart to start.” Thursday is Red Day, for “Unite against drugs.” Capitalizing on Friday as Halloween, the theme is “Say ‘Boo’ to drugs.”
Liberty High School will begin next week with Monday’s Youth Family Services assembly, with speakers addressing the students.
Each of the Liberty students has written a story, poem or essay on the theme “Love Yourself. Be Drug-Free,” and those in art classes have been illustrating posters using the same theme.
During the assembly, the written works will be read and the posters will be unveiled. Prizes will be awarded for the top entries.
Benicia Middle School has themed days to encourage school spirit against drug use. Like Benicia High, Monday is Pajama Day, promoting “Wake up to a drug-free world.” Students will wear Disney-themed attire Tuesday to promote “A drug-free world is the ‘Happiest Place on Earth.’” Students will wear stop-sign red clothing Wednesday to call for a stop to drug use. Thursday is “Team up against drugs” day, during which pupils can wear their favorite team jersey. They’ll get to wear Halloween costumes Friday to “Scare away drugs.”
At the same time, classes will continue competing in a coin drive to raise money to fight breast cancer. The class raising the most wins a prize.
“We encourage everyone in the community to show their support for a drug-free community throughout the week,” Greene said.
Those interested may call Community Service Officer Patti Baron at 707-746-4268. or email her at pbaron@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Leave a Reply