As part of Red Ribbon Week, students throughout West End Elementary School participated in an engaging “Drugs Won’t Ruin Our Dreams” project in their classes on Oct. 26. Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually across the nation as a drug prevention awareness program. Students are encouraged to live a drug free life by participating in different activities and lessons during the week.
West End students and staff members were invited to wear their best pajamas to school and make their mark on Red Ribbon Week by discussing their dreams. Students learned that dreams are unattainable when bad decisions and drugs come into play. Each student received a dream bubble and let their dreams run wild, writing their biggest dream and coloring their creation. First-graders in Johanne Gaddy’s class spoke about dreams before the activity and read the children’s book “Violet the Pilot” by Steve Breen to reinforce the importance of following your dreams.
The students then brainstormed their own dreams and wrote their ideas in their dream bubbles. After adding some color to their creations, the students gathered back on the carpet and went around in the circle, sharing their dreams to the delight of their peers.