Red Ribbon Week

The White Sulphur Springs School is participating in Red Ribbon Week from October 23-27. This week of activities for students is aimed at targeting harmful behaviors and explicate warnings pertaining to drug addictions and their long lasting effects. Red Ribbon Week is recognized nationally. The special occasion is the largest and longest standing nationwide drug prevention program. Students, in both the high school and elementary wings, participate in various events throughout the week while all proudly sporting red ribbons pinned to their clothing. Red Ribbon Week features dress-up days for students that are somewhat similar to that of homecoming week. Students will also receive special lessons pertaining to the widespread issue of addictions. The main mission of Red Ribbon Week is to not only educate youth about harmful substances and addictive behaviors, but to also encourage healthy behaviors in all areas of the students’ lives—including physical and mental health. Beginning on Monday, students and staff are encouraged to dress in red to kick off the week. On Tuesday, the theme for clothing is neon colors and sunglasses based off of the pun “The future is too bright.” Wednesday is pertaining to the idea that drugs are not within students’ characters, so the youth should dress as their favorite fictional or real inspirational figure. Then, on Thursday, the student body will be encouraged to wear their best crazy socks. Finally, Red Ribbon Week ends on Friday with the dress up day of Hornet Pride (orange and black day). Not only is the school working to prevent harmful behaviors within the student body through education in school, but by providing parents and guardians with resources as well. During Red Ribbon Week, the school is facilitating a free seminar on potential warning signs of risky behaviors in kids. All parents and guardians are encouraged to attend the “Hidden in Plain Sight” event. The occasion is for adults only and is intended to provide valuable information on detection of substance abuse within teens. Attendees will be guided through a sample teen bedroom and given information on how to best communicate with their children in the event that concerns arise about risky behavior. The tours of the sample room will be in small groups and last around 15 to 20 minutes each. It has been explicitly stated that children are not allowed in the event. The educational activity will be led by Jeremy West, the School Resource Officer, and School Counselor, Tiffany Sweeney. The “Hidden in Plain Sight” seminar will be happening on Tuesday, October 24 from six to eight p.m.