Sanford Middle School joined communities across the nation in observing Red Ribbon Week recently, demonstrating their commitment to promoting drug-free living among youth.
The school organized multiple engaging activities to reinforce this important message. Students had opportunities to make personal pledges toward living drug-free and show their support by adding stickers to a community pledge board.
A highlight of this year's week was the vaping prevention panel designed specifically for sixth-grade students. The panel addressed critical issues facing today's youth, diving deep into why some students turn to vaping and how peer pressure influences these decisions. Experts discussed the science behind vaping's negative effects on developing brains, bodies, and emotional well-being.
The interactive session also focused on positive alternatives, highlighting constructive ways to manage stress and anxiety, such as participating in sports, joining YMCA activities, and engaging in other healthy recreational pursuits. Students learned about available resources both within the school and the broader community, empowering them to seek help or support friends who might be struggling with substance use.
Fifth-grade students participated in specialized classroom sessions focused on vaping prevention and developing strategies to respond to peer pressure, while seventh and eighth-grade students benefited from guest speaker presentations.
Daily morning announcements shared messages about maintaining a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Students participated in interactive activities including word searches and an "Above the Influence" clouds project. The school also showed their solidarity by wearing red on Wednesday.
The week culminated with a powerful presentation by nationally recognized youth advocate Rob Holla, who spoke to seventh and eighth-grade students about the serious health risks of vaping. Drawing from his background as an X-ray technician, Holla combined medical knowledge with engaging, real-world examples that resonated with students. His presentation included video testimonials, statistics about vaping-related health risks, and practical information about free, confidential resources for those seeking help to quit. Holla's tech-savvy approach and ability to connect with young audiences helped make serious medical information accessible and memorable for middle school students.
The success of Red Ribbon Week was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the school counseling team, including Angela Avery and Reuben Christie, along with Brent Coleman and outreach worker Cecilia Sirianni, who worked together to coordinate these important awareness and prevention activities for Sanford's middle school students.