LOWER LAKE >> During the last week of October, Lower Lake Elementary (LLE) observed “Red Ribbon Week”, a national drug prevention and awareness campaign. The week was highlighted by presentations given by Dr. Melody Law, an addiction/chemical dependency specialist with St. Helena Health Center and Pamela Bening-Hale, a 3rd grade teacher at LLE.
Both presenters taught students about the negative effects of drug use. The presentations included many visuals to aid students in understanding the dangers of drug use, including the effects usage can have on the mind and physical appearance. The students were very engaged with the speakers” messages, including seventh grader Alisha Cook-Jones, who stated, “The doctor”s presentation was very useful in my opinion, because teaching us about what stuff is in those drugs can save your life.” Lower Lake students were given anti-drug use posters following the presentations.
The students also participated in a couple of red ribbon-wearing contests. The contests were put on by the LLE student council who integrated the ribbon wearing with the school”s “spirit week” activities. Many students went all out with the ribbons, with some wearing as many as twenty six at once. One such student, Aloralynn Vinyard, stated, “Red ribbon week was an inspiration for me. All week I wore more than twenty ribbons every day. I believe that kids should not use drugs ever; that”s why I wore red ribbons all week.” Many of the students shared Aloralynn”s viewpoint and were very appreciative of the efforts made by the presenters.
