Ste. Genevieve R-II School District Promotes Red Ribbon Week
The Ste. Genevieve R-II School District celebrated Red Ribbon Week from October 28 to November 1.
This year’s theme was “Send a Message. Stay Drug Free.” The theme encouraged everyone to speak out to students and the community about making healthy choices. It also emphasized the importance of making decisions with the future in mind.
Throughout the week, students and staff participated in activities that promoted healthy decisions. On Monday, October 28, students, staff and community members wore red in support of addiction awareness and drug/substance abuse prevention.
Tuesday, October 29, was Wacky Shoe Day to “Kick Drugs to the Curb,” Wednesday, October 30, was Camo Day to “Be A Hero … Stay Drug Free,” Thursday, October 31 was Comfy/Pajama Day to “Follow Your Dreams … Be Drug Free.” And Friday, November 1, was Green and White Day to “Take Pride in Being Drug Free.”
Speaker Cary Trivanonich made a presentation to middle school and high school students on October 28 in the R-II Performing Arts Center and shared his inspiring drug awareness message.
Students in the high school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club volunteered to assist in presentations around the elementary schools throughout Ste. Genevieve County, including Bloomsdale Elementary, Ste. Genevieve Elementary, St. Agnes School in Bloomsdale, St. Joseph’s School in Zell, Valle Catholic Schools, and preschools and day-cares throughout the county. The SADD students included: Emily Abt, Sam Brewer, Katelyn Fuller, Serena Garcia, Grace Robinson, Emily Skaggs, Shaun Uzzell, and Emily Zahner.
At the assemblies, preschool through fourth grade students, watched an animated video about safe decision-making. They then had a chance to meet corporal Charles Ochs from the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office and his K-9 partner Ares. Ochs talked about their work as a team and how Ares is specially trained for police work, including being certified in narcotic searches and apprehension. Ste. Genevieve police officer Nick Cusanelli and his K-9 partner, Mario, also assisted in educating our students in their police work and making safe choices. Many law enforcemtent officers from the city of Ste. Genevieve and Ste. Genevieve County assisted in the programs and in making the week a success.
At Bloomsdale Elementary, a group of third-graders volunteered to help plan Red Ribbon Week at the school. The students met after the week ended in order to debrief and create an evaluative chart that will help guide future Red Ribbon student leaders.
Kristen Huffman coordinated the events this year. The Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office, the Ste. Genevieve Police Department and the Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital along with local businesses and community members worked to reiterate and share the message to stay drug-free.
(Information from the Ste. Genevieve R-II School District.)
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