Pubdate: Thu, 27 Oct 2005
Source: Times-Republican (Marshalltown, IA)
Copyright: 2005 Times Republican
Contact:  http://www.timesrepublican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3497
Author: Stephanie Suckow

LOCAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN RED RIBBON WEEK

Putting good stuff in her body and keeping bad stuff out is a concept 
that Abigail Ruiz, fifth-grader at Woodbury Elementary School, now 
has a firm grasp on thanks to lessons she has been learning through 
Red Ribbon Week.

Ruiz and every other student in the Marshalltown school district are 
taking part in the week designed to keep students off drugs and alcohol.

"Smoking cigars and drinking alcohol are all really bad for you," 
Ruiz said. "We learned that we need to keep our bodies healthy by 
putting good stuff in our body."

Ruiz's classmate Ana Fernandez said she also understands the harmful 
effects of drugs after the lessons she has learned this week.

"If you chew tobacco then you're teeth are going to turn black and if 
you smoke your lungs are going to turn black," Fernandez said. "Both 
of those things won't make you healthy."

At Woodbury Elementary School, Counselor Deb Vos has been in charge 
of the informative part of the week by sharing healthy living tips 
and harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.

Throughout the week she has various activities planned to help 
students in each grade level understand the overall purpose of the 
week-long program.

"With the older kids you can tell that they understand the concept 
and realize that if they do take drugs bad things will happen," Vos 
said. "With the littler ones though it's more about helping them to 
make good decisions overall."

Despite varying lessons, Vos said the school is unified in showing 
their support of the week by wearing red ribbons around their wrist 
and taking a pledge to be drug-free.

Red ribbons can be found throughout the Marshalltown Community School 
District this week as each school has devised their own way of 
recognizing the campaign.

For example, Hoglan Elementary School will be hosting an inflatable 
Jurassic Survivor obstacle course Thursday, and Franklin Elementary 
students can wear their favorite team apparel on Friday. Each day's 
event coincides with lessons the students will be learning that day.

Activities throughout Marshalltown are taking place as part of the 
statewide Red Ribbon Week campaign that is designed to help prevent 
students from starting, and decrease the number of students already 
using alcohol or tobacco.

According to the 2002 Iowa Youth Survey on the Iowa Red Ribbon Web 
site, sixth-graders reported six percent current use of alcohol or 
two percent current tobacco use in the last 30 days. Eighth-graders 
reported 18 percent current use of alcohol or 10 percent current 
tobacco use in the last 30 days.

For more information on student statistics or the history of Red 
Ribbon Week check out www.redribboniowa.org.

For more information on specific school activities contact your 
student's school counselor.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman