Campuses in Dayton ISD participated in National Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 22–26. Red Ribbon Week serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.
Each campus had various methods to spread the word about the prevention of drug use. During their daily announcements, campuses were able to share facts pertaining to the harm of using drugs. As a culminating Red Ribbon Week activity, all elementary campuses participated in a Storybook Character Parade which focuses on students showing positive character traits.
At Dayton High School, there was a special visit by the Grim Reaper, played by Mrs. Crystal Holsinger, DHS Biology teacher. The Grim Reaper randomly selected 12 students to participate in a dramatization of the harmful impact of substance abuse in teenagers. The students who were selected wore a sign explaining how they perished because of their use of drugs or alcohol.
To emphasize their mortality, these students had to remain silent for the rest of the day as they continued to follow their class schedule. This visual reminder that substance abuse can take any type of student was a powerful message for all of the students at DHS.
“Student safety is always a number one priority for our district and we are glad that all campuses participated in the National Red Ribbon Week,” wrote Travis Young, executive director of Student Services, in an emailed media release.