Red Ribbon Week is around the corner!

What is Red Ribbon Week?

· It is a time for gratitude for all the lives that remain drug free.

·It is a time to pledge to live a safe and drug-free life.

·It is a time to remember those we have lost in the fight against drugs.

To encourage our students to maintain healthy lifestyles,

Student Council invited each homeroom to participate in a Prayer Contest; these are due to Student Council (Rm. 23) today, October 22nd.

Younger grades may submit one class prayer. In upper grades each student may write an original prayer. All should focus on praying for:

· those who are addicted,

· their loved ones who try to stay strong, and

· for all children to be drug-free and safe.

The overall winner will be featured in our Parish bulletin. The top eight prayers will be read for the Morning Reflections and at the End-of-the-day Announcements during Red Ribbon week, which is October 27th – 31st.

Red Ribbon Week Events:

Monday, October 27th: “Be Red-dy to Say NO to Drugs!”

Students wear something red to signify the beginning of Red Ribbon Week. Also, at some point in the day, classes may go outside and tie ribbons on trees after they have signed their names to signify that they pledge to stay away from drugs.

Tuesday, October 28th: “Simon Says ‘Say NO to Drugs’” Day!

Students will drop everything at different points in the day to listen as Mrs. Hemmelman plays “Simon Says.” Teachers in the classroom are judges as to who is out of the game.

Wednesday, October 29th: “Team up to Sock it to Drugs” Day

Student may wear a St. Emily or a professional team shirt, jeans, and crazy socks. (**Please note that if a student chooses to wear a sleeveless jersey, a sleeved t-shirt should be worn underneath.)

Thursday, October 30th: “ZAP it to Drugs” Day

Students attend a Laser Assembly at 9:15am in the gym.

Friday, October 31st: “Scare off Drugs” Day

Students wear costumes to “SCARE” drugs away. No blood or weapons allowed.

The Story Behind the Symbol

Enrique "Kiki" Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference.
Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference."
The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death.
In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory, the red ribbon.
The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children.
In 1997, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse began committing resources to ensure the continuation of the Red Ribbon Campaign in Texas, as well as the hopes and beliefs behind this grassroots effort to protect children from the dangers of alcohol and other drugs.