STE. GENEVIEVE – Ste. Genevieve County R-II Schools celebrated Red Ribbon Week the week of Oct. 24.
This year’s theme was “Better Things to Do Than Drugs.”
Throughout the week, students and staff throughout the county participated in activities that promoted healthy decisions.
Third grade, elementary and preschools and daycares enoyed presentations from the Ste. Genevieve Police Department and the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the local K-9s. 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. The 5th-12th grades attended a NextGen assembly which encouraged students to be who they are and to recognize that they all matter, have value, and have purpose. The group stressed that it is never too late for students to start making decisions that are good for them.
The schools also celebrated the theme through dress-up days.
Monday: “I can find peace and calm through rest”- Wear your pjs
Tuesday: “ I have goals for a healthy future”- Dress for a future career
Wednesday: “One community with one goal working to support a drug free community”- Wear red (community businesses are invited to join in!)
Thursday: “The outdoors are a good mood lifter”- Dress for an outdoor activity’’
Local businesses and organizations supported students and staff by wearing red ribbons with the students and staff throughout the week!
“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, 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,” an R-II District official stated.
“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 our students, and for spreading the message to make healthy decisions. We would like to thank the local group Resources to Recovery, who had planned on sponsoring the Hidden in Plain View exhibit, which was unfortunately canceled. This event will be rescheduled for a later date,” the school district official added.