Hamilton Middle School events raise drug, vaping awareness
School administrators and the National Junior Honor Society on Monday kicked off Red Ribbon Week at Hamilton Middle School. Classes decorated doors, the NJHS put up this poster display, and students participated in daily themes to raise awareness of the dangers of drug use and nicotine products. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Students at Hamilton Middle School decorated classroom doors in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, delivering anti-drug messages and competing to be named the grand prize winner of this week’s events. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Students at Hamilton Middle School decorated classroom doors in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, delivering anti-drug messages and competing to be named the grand prize winner of this week’s events. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Students at Hamilton Middle School decorated classroom doors in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, delivering anti-drug messages and competing to be named the grand prize winner of this week’s events. (Photo by Michael Erb)
School administrators and the National Junior Honor Society on Monday kicked off Red Ribbon Week at Hamilton Middle School. Classes decorated doors, the NJHS put up this poster display, and students participated in daily themes to raise awareness of the dangers of drug use and nicotine products. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Students at Hamilton Middle School decorated classroom doors in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, delivering anti-drug messages and competing to be named the grand prize winner of this week’s events. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Students at Hamilton Middle School decorated classroom doors in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, delivering anti-drug messages and competing to be named the grand prize winner of this week’s events. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Students at Hamilton Middle School decorated classroom doors in celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, delivering anti-drug messages and competing to be named the grand prize winner of this week’s events. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- Area students are joining in a national movement to raise drug and vaping awareness as part of the annual Red Ribbon Week.
Hamilton Middle School on Monday kicked off a week of themed events, including a door decorating contest and daily activities and prizes.
The events are part of the national Red Ribbon Week, which is celebrated during the last week of October. The annual event is in memory of DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who in 1985 was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by drug dealers while working undercover in Mexico.
Since then, communities, schools and other organizations have celebrated his life and the war on drugs by wearing red ribbons and encouraging youth to stay drug free.
School counselor Kurt Echard said members of the school's National Junior Honor Society met to decide each day's theme and what sort of activities would take place. In addition to the theme days, guest speakers will spend the week educating students on the dangers of drug use and vaping. Vapes, and smaller e-cigarettes called Juuls, deliver concentrated nicotine and sometimes other substances as vapor, rather than smoke.
"We do developmental guidance classes every day, and the teachers actually lead those activities, talking about addiction and drug prevention," Echard said. "We're also bringing in a speaker series, talking to the kids about healthy choices, focusing on Juuling, because we have such a big problem with Juuling and vaping in general."
Some area schools held Red Ribbon Week events last week. The official start of the national event is Oct. 23.
"We chose to do it this week because we wanted to incorporate Halloween costumes into one of the days we give prizes," Echard said.
Hamilton's themes this week range from pajamas to hobbies to heroes. Members of the school's NJHS visit classrooms each morning to hand out prizes, such as suckers to small toys.
Hamilton National Junior Honor Society President Lily Davis, 13, said while some grade levels are showing a high level of participation, she'd like to see more get involved in the daily themes.
"A lot of the kids really enjoyed decorating the doors," she said.
Community members will visit the school throughout the week to judge the doors, with a winner for each of the three grade levels and one class receiving the grand prize of a pizza or ice cream party.
Hamilton NJHS member Jackson Simmons, 13, sported lighted Christmas llama-pajamas Monday as part of Pajama Day.
"That's why I wanted to dress up," to encourage other students to join in, he said. "I think the biggest participation will be Thursday (Halloween) when they can wear costumes."
Simmons said his hope is students will stay away from drugs and nicotine, and if not will seek help to quit.
"I know there are a lot of people who get into Juuling or smoking or even drugs because of peer pressure, but they don't feel like they can stop because they're alone," he said. "I'm hoping they will learn they're not alone and they can get help."