Ste. Genevieve County R-II Schools celebrated Red Ribbon Week the week of Oct. 25. This year’s theme was “Drug Free Looks Like Me.” Throughout the week, students and staff throughout the county participated in activities that promote healthy decisions.
Third grade, elementary and preschools and daycares had the opportunity to engage in presentations from the Ste. Genevieve Police Department and the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the local K-9 units! Students met Corporal Charles Ochs and Officer Nikola Cusanelli and their K-9 partners. Corporal Ochs talked with students about their work as a team, and explained to older students how his K-9 partner is specially trained for police work, including being certified in narcotic searches and apprehension.
Members of the high school organization Students Against Destructive Decisions assisted in the planning and programming, and helped provide the drug-free presentations at the elementary schools, preschools and daycares. Middle school students had the opportunity to see speaker David Graham, a comedian who focuses on making good and safe life choices. In his presentation, he stressed that our students cannot let others think for them. “Your power to choose empowers you,” he said. “You are too important to risk everything for the sake of nothing. In your life, there are going to be some down times, and there are going to be some up times. But tell yourself today and keep telling yourself: ‘I am worth it.’”
Our schools also celebrated the theme through dress-up days listed below! Local businesses and organizations supported our students and staff by wearing red ribbons with our students and staff throughout the week!
Monday: “Drug Free Looks Like Me”- Wear Red
Tuesday: “ Peace Out to Drugs”- Wear Tie Dye or Retro Clothes
Wednesday: “I Have the Power to Resist Drugs”- Dress like a superhero or wear superhero attire
Thursday: “Drugs Can’t Find Me”- Wear Camo
The Ste. Genevieve R-II School District would like to thank Mrs. Kristen Huffman and the private and parochial schools throughout Ste. Genevieve County for coordinating the events this year, along with Students Against Destructive Decisions for helping to plan the activities for this year, and the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office, the Ste. Genevieve Police Department and the Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital for their work in helping to reiterate and share the message to stay drug free. We would also like to thank our faculty and staff who helped to plan this week and make everything run smoothly, and our local businesses and community members for supporting this program and spreading the message to make healthy decisions.