Mansfield ISD Magazine Winter 2016 | Page 25

Mansfield ISD Celebrates National Red Ribbon Week M ansfield ISD joined the nationwide effort to visibly take a stand against drugs on Oct. 23-31. The 2016 theme was: YOLO. Be Drug Free. (YOLO stands for You Only Live Once.) During Red Ribbon Week, several campuses around MISD wore red ribbons and held various special events, activities and dress-up days to show the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle. Youth and parents could also sign the Red Ribbon Pledge, which encourages open dialogue about the need to live a drug-free lifestyle. Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who do not. The first Red Ribbon campaign began more than 30 years ago when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique Camarena was murdered while fighting the crime against illegal drugs. In his honor, his loved ones wore satin red badges. Today, the Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people. Students at Cross Timbers Intermediate School “socked it” to drugs. Rowdy, the Dallas Cowboys mascot, taught the kids at Danny Jones Middle School that you can’t win by using drugs. Erma Nash Elementary School kicked off the week by wearing red. A minion made a visit to Elizabeth Smith Elementary School to say that drugs are despicable. Worley Middle School held a “Dream Drug Free” day where students could wear pajamas. Mansfield School & Family 23