This week is Red Ribbon Week, the oldest drug prevention campaign in the nation. Students and staff throughout the division will engage in activities that promote a drug-free and healthy lifestyle following this year’s theme: Life Is Your Journey. Travel Drug Free.
What does safe, healthy and drug-free look like in our schools?
- Elementary school students wearing sports jerseys to “Team Up Against Drugs,” dressing up as their favorite story character because they would “Rather Read A Book Than Do Drugs,” and participating in other creative ways to celebrate a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
- More than 4,000 secondary school students participating in a collective discussion about substance abuse prevention and an invitation to make a pledge to grow up safe, healthy, and drug-free. And, more than 400 school counselors, teachers, and student support team members engaging students in activities to help build a healthy school climate. Students will also be learning about the effects of drugs and alcohol through hands-on, interactive activities including wearing impairment goggles.
Students throughout the division will engage in activities that promote a drug-free and healthy lifestyle following this year’s theme: Life Is Your Journey. Travel Drug Free.
How can you help your child on their drug-free journey?
- Talk to your child
Children of parents who talk to them frequently about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t. Ask your child to show you the flyer he/she received from school about the ACPS Red Ribbon Week. - Encourage your child to participate in the ACPS Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest
Help them develop their own message that promotes a drug-free lifestyle or celebrates healthy decision-making! Entries must be submitted to the ACPS FACE Center, 1340 Braddock Place, 5th Floor by November 8.
ACPS Red Ribbon Week is coordinated by the ACPS FACE Center and the Department of Student Services in partnership with Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and Inova Hospital.
It’s part of ACPS’ commitment to our health and wellness goal ACPS will promote efforts to enable students to be healthy and ready to learn.
Learn more about ACPS Red Ribbon Week activities
Learn how ACPS is responding to student needs around substance abuse through our K-12 Substance Abuse Prevention and Educational Intervention Services.
Have questions? Need guidance?
Please contact K-12 Substance Abuse Prevention & Intervention Services Coordinator Fredy Martinez at fredy.martinez@acps.k12.va.us.