County schools mark Red Ribbon Week

The teams were tied with 30 seconds left in the game, and cheers rose from growing crowd surrounding the court.

Suddenly, the teachers inched ahead, pulling a "trick out of their hats" to win the game by two points.

It was the Martin Luther King School annual teachers versus fifth- and sixth-grade students basketball game to commemorate the finale of nationwide Red Ribbon Week.

Martin Luther King School was among several Kings County schools to promote the legendary week of drug-free education this week. This year's ribbon read, "It's up to me to stay drug free."

The announcer for the basketball game, MLK teacher John Snyder, congratulated the instructors on their win, but reminded all of the day's players that it takes the teachers and the students to make the school run.

"We're always, always all in this together," Snyder said as "We're All In This Together" from Disney's "High School Musical" played from the school's sound system.

The basketball game was part of the school's drug free theme for the day: "Exercise your brain, not drugs." Students dressed up in their favorite excercise or sports wear on Friday.

Earlier in the week, students had a Hawaiian dress day to remind them to "lei off drugs," a crazy socks day to encourage them to "sock it to drugs" and a favorite vest day to align with "Invest In Your Future Not Drugs Day."

Julie Castro, student advocate at Martin Luther King School, said dress-up days and events like the basketball game will stick longer in children's memories than just telling them not to do drugs.

"This is something the kids will always remember," Castro said of the teacher verses student basketball game. "It makes an impression. All of this week's activities embrace that impression."

A few miles away, older Hanford Elementary School District students at John F. Kennedy Junior High School competed in a crazy hair competition, celebrating "Don't Be Crazy, Don't Do Drugs Day" to commemorate the end of Red Ribbon Week.

The seventh- and eighth-grade JFK students had their hair in styles ranging from gold glittery mohawks to a pink and purple afro.

Brandy Resarias, a seventh grader at JFK, had trimmed and bent clothes hangers and stuck them in her waistlength locks to help her make her two pigtails stick straight up in the air.

"It's important to be active and express yourself," Resarias said. "And it's important not to do drugs."

Jason Strickland, principal at the school, said more students participated in the Red Ribbon Week festivities at the school this year, though it's often difficult to get this age group of children to participate. But teachers at the school touched on the subject in their classrooms every day this week, emphasizing the need to be drug free, Strickland said.

"You want the kids to realize there are other choices out there than drugs," Strickland said. "All in all, kids don't want to do drugs. Kids don't want to make bad choices. We try to give them the access to avenues to make the right choices. That's anybody's job in education."

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3047

(Oct. 27, 2007)