Monday kicks off the start of the annual Red Ribbon Week, which is designed to encourage students to “stay drug free.”
During next week, schools across the country will put on programming to teach students about the dangers of drug use. Poplar Bluff R-I schools will also be participating in the tradition.
At Oak Grove Elementary School, students will participate in a week of dress up days as well as activities.
Monday students are encouraged to wear pajamas to school for “Follow Your Dreams, Don’t Do Drugs” day.
Tuesday is “Dress for Success/Career Day” when students are encouraged to dress for the profession they want to be in when they grow up.
Wednesday is “Past, Present, Future — Drugs are not for me” day. The students are encouraged to dress in neon clothes or dress in the style of a specific decade.
Thursday is for camo with the message being “Be All you can BE, Drug Free.”
Lastly, Friday is “Crazy Socks/Hat Day” with a message about being drug free from “head to toe.”
However, families are encouraged to get started on the awareness week over the weekend. Students who bring in a sports ticket, restaurant ticket, church bulletin or parent letter as proof of family activity will receive a red ribbon to wear throughout the week.
“Any kind of activity with your family would count,” Diane Jones, councilor, said. “Whether it’s playing a board game or playing soccer outside. It doesn’t have to be something in town. It just has to be that you spent time with your family.
“Not all families are going to get to go out and eat or have something that proves they did something together. Just show they hung out with their family over the weekend.”
In addition to the dress up days, Ptlm. Billy Duckett with the Poplar Bluff Police Department will come to the school on Tuesday along with his K9 dog Kane. Duckett is a certified D.A.R.E Officer and K9 Handler. They will have an assembly for the students about the dangers of drug use.
All of the R-I schools will be participating in a variety of activities focused around Red Ribbon Week’s national slogan of “Send a message, stay drug free.”