Woodland Staff, Students Commemorate Red Ribbon Week

Woodland District 50 students are recognizing Red Ribbon Week in many ways with the theme of this year's week (Oct. 23-31) being "Life Is Your Journey, Travel Drug Free."

At Woodland Middle School, you will see how students and staff decorated classroom doors for the occasion and students also participated in a poster contest around this year's theme. The Middle School planning committee enlisted help from more than 20 businesses in the community to assist with donations for prizes throughout the week. At morning advisory time, students are watching related videos as well as having discussions related to living drug free. A school assembly is also being held this week to stress the importance of taking life's journey with a drug-free lifestyle.

Middle School students as well as Intermediate, Elementary and Primary students at Woodland are showing their school spirit this week in themed days that promote healthy lifestyle choices. For instance, Crazy Hair Day ties in with "using your head for a healthy lifestyle" while another day where students are invited to wear mismatched socks ties in with a theme of "sock it to unhealthy choices." Woodland Primary School also welcomed Gurnee Police Department Officer and Woodland School Resource Officer Ron Conley to speak to the children about community safety and Halloween safety.

"Throughout the school year, we emphasize positive behavior through our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) theme, and Red Ribbon Week connects with that effort by giving our students another opportunity to reflect on the need to make healthy choices. We are grateful to our local community partners for assisting us in promoting drug free youth in the Woodland Community." said Dr. Lori Casey, Associate Superintendent of Education.

Local commemorations of Red Ribbon Week date back to 1985 when a nationwide campaign began in response to the death of Drug Enforcement Agency Agent Enrique Camerena. Parents and youth across the country began wearing red ribbons to symbolize a commitment to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs in America.