CONNORVILLE –The Buckeye Local Junior High School Student Council is observing Red Ribbon Week to bring attention to the effects of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

Activities are set throughout the week of Oct. 27-31 and include themed dress-up days and regular highlights to help spread awareness among youth. Adviser Jennifer Panepucci said the student organization has about 30 members in grades 6-8 and the weeklong commemoration was led by the members.

“Every day we have a theme to dress up and kids are creating Red Ribbon Week posters that will be displayed in the hallways and judged by [Wells Township Police Chief and school DARE officer] Sean Norman,” she said. “We will also have daily readings in announcements on the origins and background of Red Ribbon Week and how it has evolved, along with statistics since the beginning.”

Banners have already been placed in the hallways while social studies classes will create the posters, and students taking part in the dress-up project will also enter a ticket for a daily drawing. Theme days include “You Can’t Convince ‘Me’ Me to Use Drugs,” where students may dress as their favorite meme on Monday; “Teach Yourself about the Dangers of Drugs,” where students may dress as a teacher on Tuesday; “Be Mean to Drugs,” where students wear pink on Wednesday; “Hat’s Off to Being Drug Free,” where kids don toppers on Thursday; and “Don’t Fall for the Trick – Drugs are No Treat,” where they wear school-appropriate Halloween attire on Friday.

Teachers will vote for the best-dressed students in the first-period classes and the top winners in grades 6-8 will receive a prize. Additionally, awards will be distributed for first, second, and third place for the poster contest.

“The class with the most Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) PAWS coins for the time period will also receive a Halloween party and get to trick-or-treat through the classrooms,” Panepucci continued.

While the activity may be fun, it also sends a powerful message.

“The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to bring awareness to kids about the effects of alcohol, drugs and tobacco use.”

Red Ribbon Week grew from an initiative which began in 1985 and was launched in California. It spread nationwide when it was established through the National Family Partnership and was influenced by First Lady Nancy Reagan before it was officially proclaimed by Congress in 1988. It is supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other non-profit organizations and private companies.