Pubdate: Wed, 26 Oct 2005
Source: Press-Tribune, The (Roseville, CA)
Copyright: 2005 Gold Country Media
Contact:  http://www.rosevillept.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3251
Author: Loryll Nicolaisen, The Press-Tribune
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Red+Ribbon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

RED RIBBON RAPPIN'

Gates Elementary Fifth-Graders Get Out Their Anti-Drug
Message

If you want kids to learn about the danger of using drugs, leave it up
to the big kids.

They won't just teach - they'll rap.

"You're too smart to start, listen to your heart, you know you've got
to think, before you take a drink, yo," recited Sidney Raey-Gonzales,
one of four Gates Elementary fifth-graders who performed a "Drugs Away
- - You've Got the Power" rap for the school during a Red Ribbon Week
assembly Monday afternoon.

Gates Elementary, like many other schools across the country, is
observing Red Ribbon Week with events aimed at promoting drug- and
alcohol-free lifestyles.

"I think the emphasis is the awareness piece so the students will make
healthy choices," explained Janet Handley, Gates principal.

"Too Smart to Start" is this year's red ribbon theme, and it was acted
out, rapped and pledged in an event led by Gates' three fifth-grade
classes.

"I think it's pretty cool," fifth-grader Tess Wenning said, explaining
the privilege given to the school's oldest students. "The fourth grade
and the third grade, anyone who goes here knows this is what you get
to do."

Students spent a couple weeks planning the assembly to ensure a
successful presentation.

"This is all kid produced," said Dea Godbee, fifth-grade teacher. "Kid
written, kid produced. A lot goes into the 10-minute production
because they want to do so well."

The fifth-graders took their job seriously as advocates for the
younger grades.

"We wanted to make it a point not to do drugs because of the bad
effects of it and to introduce the red ribbon," explained Alex
Coulter, a fifth-grader and Compass Council president. "Red Ribbon
Week is important because it encourages kids not to do drugs because
kids are our future and if everyone does drugs then we won't have a
drug-free world."

Fifth-graders encouraged the younger students to stay drug free,
leading the school in an anti-drug pledge. Mr. Bones, a classroom
skeleton, was brought on stage in a goofy skit to demonstrate the toll
drug and alcohol use can take on young bodies.

"Did you know a brain not on drugs has great problem-solving skills?"
announced fifth-grader Adreanna Tirone. "By doing drugs you ruin your
lungs, making them black, grimy and yucky."

"Drugs kill brain cells," the fifth-graders recited in unison. "Don't
do drugs. Be too smart to start."

Budding songwriter Cameron Bones was responsible for the assembly's
rap performance.

"We first had to ask our teacher about the theme and then we had to
come up with rhyming words like 'smart' and 'start,' and 'drive' and
'alive,'" explained Bones, who wrote the rap. "Most kids are into rap
songs and if we do things how they like it, they'll be more
interested."T

Andrew Greenblatt was one of four fifth-graders who took the stage for
the rap performance.

"I think it's fun doing it, and when you have fun you have a better
chance of succeeding," he explained. "We just thought it was something
the school would like. It's to encourage kids to stay off drugs
because drugs are a terrible thing."

In addition to Monday's assembly, students will continue through the
week to dress for spirit days with drug-free themes like "Bee Drug
Free," where students are encouraged to wear black and yellow, and
"Don't Let Drugs Sneak Up On You," a day when students should wear
their favorite sneakers to school. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake