In Montoursville Schools, Red Ribbon Week is not something small. The elementary and middle schools work very hard to bring awareness to drugs and their dangers. This year, the high school brought Red Ribbon Week activities back for the first time in almost ten years.
Students in the Education class worked for weeks on Red Ribbon Week activities for students and staff to participate in. There was a poster contest, theme days, a bake sale, a Shirley Temple sale, and even a prize drawing during Red Ribbon Week.
Senior and Education student Raigan Fredericks talked about what the education students did to plan Red Ribbon Week.
“We really wanted to get students interested in participating,” Fredericks said. “We hung posters throughout the school and created different committees to organize the theme days and sales. Red Ribbon Week was a popular thing in previous years until we lost the club that planned it. We really wanted to bring it back, it is just such an important thing that students should be brought aware of. ”
Counselor Mr. Eric Edler brought this idea to the education classes.
In an interview, Edler discussed why he promoted Red Ribbon Week to the Education students and where the money from the sales was going.
Edler said, “I was inspired by Mrs. Vanessa Lorson, Lyter Elementary’s counselor. She has been doing Red Ribbon Week activities and lessons for years, and I really wanted to bring it back here at the high school. I brought the idea to the education classes, and they took it and ran with it. I asked for educational announcements and posters, they did so much more than I could have imagined.”
Spanish and Education teacher Señora Andrea Tira encouraged her students to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs.
In a short interview, Tira discussed the activities and described the hard work her students did to organize them.
“The idea of receiving and potentially winning a gift card really incentivized the dress up days,” Tira said. “We had very good participation. My favorite part of the whole thing was watching my students pulling all activities and sales together. They did it all. I hope this helped students learn the rewards of a drug-free life, and I hope in future years we continue to spread the message, ‘Say no to drugs!’”
Featured Image (at top): Sophomore Bobby Nolan also donned red from head to toe for the “Red” themed day. Photo by Mrs. Jennie Crawford
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