DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) has offices all over the country, and each office has a section that has the sole responsibility of educating children. All you need to do is call them and ask them to come out to your school to do a very professional and child friendly discussion on substance abuse. Additionally, they have all sorts of great give-aways, such as posters, videos, pens, and cups (free). Also, If you are in the DC area, Office of National Drug Control Policy also has "education" as one of its three Presidentially mandated tenents. They will also provide briefs and hand-outs (they are the ones who do the drug-free commercials on TV).
We do a Red Ribbon Week Parade every year at our school. We give each grade level a theme and they dress up according to their theme.
Examples:
Drugs are a nightmare--Wear pajamas
My future is bright without drugs--Wear sunglasses or dress up in what you want to be when you grow up
Drugs bug me--Dress like bugs
Be a Survivor, Be Drug Free--Wear camoflauge
Don't clown around with drugs--Dress like clowns
Pre-K through 3rd grade rides on trailers that have been decorated by the parents. 4th - 6th walk or occasionally we let them ride their bikes. The city really gets into this and we actually have quite a few parents and business people who line the streets to watch the parade. The past few years, our city council members rode their bikes along with our 6th graders.
The kids get a huge kick out of being IN the parade and not just a by-stander. This year our parade will be on Monday instead of Friday like normal. The kids will be out of school on Friday of Red Ribbon Week so we moved it up to Monday. It might make for a rowdy week at school, but we'll try anything once.
Last year I planned our first Red Ribbon Week. We had a different activity for each day. I am also looking for different ideas for this year, but would be happy to help anyone that needs help.
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Our school always does something and they already planned last year when I *got* the job of PTO president. This year we got together and planned a whole week of things:
Day:Theme: Event:
Monday:
Soaring to New Heights Drug Free
Balloon launch
Tues:
Tie one on against Drugs
all students get sticker with slogan and are supposed to wear a tie.
Weds:
Put a cap on Drugs
all students get a pencil and are supposed to wear hats.
Thurs:
Wear Red day
all students get a sticker with slogan and are supposed to wear red.
Friday:
Sock it to Drugs
all students get a sticker and there will be a sock hop in the gym in the afternoon.
In years past they have Red Ribbon Week in the budget for about $300. That is about what we spent. The kids get something everyday and it will be a fun week for them. We usually have our county sherrif come and talk to the kids one day and our local cop on another. On monday the kids will all be given a pledge to sign and a red ribbon braclet to wear all week.
This year we are also doing a poster contest with the kids. we have ps-4th grade and there will do posters to be displayed all week and the top 3 winners from each class will get a prize.
Red Ribbon Week activities are planned by our school counselor, but we help her out however she needs. One year, we constructed a red and white helium balloon arch in the front foyer. Each day of the week usually has a theme for everyone to follow, such as:
*"Wear red"
*"Give drugs the boot"--wear cowboy boots
*"Turn your back on drugs"--wear your clothes
backwards
*"We CAN be drug-free"--CANned food drive for
county aid agency
*"Crazy Sock or Crazy Hat Day"--you'd be crazy
to do drugs.
The counselor also buys small theme items for all the kids, like stickers, wristbands, ribbons, pencils, etc...
