FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 25, 2007
CONTACT:
Lisa McVey, Communications & Community Relations Liaison, 610-869-2441, ext. 1019
AVON GROVE SCHOOLS TO HOST “RED RIBBON WEEK” ACTIVITIES OCT. 1-5 TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO LEAD HEALTHY, DRUG-FREE & SAFE LIFESTYLES
Kickoff Events Include “Rachel’s Challenge” Assemblies for Students & Community Members Oct. 1
West Grove, PA — Avon Grove High School, Fred S. Engle Middle School, and Avon Grove Intermediate School administrators, faculty, and staff, will join forces with students to make a stand in support of drug-free lifestyles and positive choices during a weeklong series of preventative education programs and empowering assemblies scheduled October 1-5.
Kickoff Events, Monday, October 1, 2007:
- At 7:50 a.m. October 1, seventh- and eighth-graders will attend the “Rachel’s Challenge” assembly at Fred S. Engle Middle School. Students will be issued five powerful challenges that are based on the writings and life of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine school shootings. The focus of the program is helping students recognize their purpose in life, and challenging them to make a positive difference in their communities.
- At 9:30 a.m., ninth-graders from Avon Grove High School will attend the “Rachel’s Challenge” assembly in the high school auditorium.
- Avon Grove School District invites parents, other students, and community members to attend the “Rachel’s Challenge” Community Event at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 1, in the Fred S. Engle Middle School cafeteria, 107 Schoolhouse Road, West Grove. The community event features a similar message as the school events. Admission is free and all are welcome.
According to the Rachel’s Challenge Website, Rachel’s acts of kindness and compassion, coupled with the contents of her six diaries, have become the foundation for this powerful, “life-changing” program, which includes moving video footage and personal interviews with Columbine survivors, as well as honest talk from trained professional speakers.
The Rachel’s Challenge program also includes a peer-training component. A group of about 30 high school students and 32 middle school students — all volunteers — will participate in an afternoon training session October 1. The training is based on the five-part challenge issued during the assemblies.
For more information on Rachel’s Challenge, see www.rachelschallenge.com, or contact Susan Natale (K-8) snatale@avongrove.org, or Jennifer Martelli (high school), jmartelli@avongrove.org.
Additional Red Ribbon Week Activities:
Fred S. Engle Middle School (FESMS) plans to create a “Born to be Drug-Free” bulletin board this year. The board will feature baby pictures of school faculty and staff. Students will be given an opportunity to guess which staff members go with what picture. Response sheets are due Friday, October 5.
FSEMS also plans to create a “Top 12 List of Reasons to be Drug-free.” Each seventh-grade team will be asked to come up with one reason, and each eighth-grade team will be asked to come up with two reasons. The Top 12 list is due from the respective teams on Friday, October 5. The SOS team will vote on the order and will announce the Top 12 Reason to be Drug-Free. The reasons will be mounted and posted throughout the middle school.
Also, facts about drugs and drug use will be shared over the morning announcements each day at the middle school. Students will have a chance to answer questions related to the announcements, and possibly win a small prize, during lunch periods.
Also:
- FSEMS and Avon Grove Intermediate School (AGIS) will kick off their Red Ribbon Week campaigns with “Team Up Against Drugs Day” on Monday, October 1. Students and staff at both schools will be encouraged to wear a jersey or logo that features their favorite sports team.
- On Tuesday, October 2, FSEMS and AGIS students will be encouraged to wear red to celebrate drug-free lifestyles.
- Wednesday, October 3, is Avon Grove Spirit Day at FSEMS and AGIS. Students will be encouraged to wear Avon Grove apparel and colors. Avon Grove High School students will be encouraged to wear red on Wednesday, October 3, in support of Red Ribbon Week.
- Thursday, October 4, is “Don’t Get Mixed Up On Drugs Day” at the middle school and intermediate school. Students will be encouraged to wear mismatched clothing to symbolize how drugs can cloud and confuse normal life.
- Friday, October 5, is “Sock It To Drugs – Crazy Sock Day” at the middle school and intermediate school. Students will be encouraged to wear their oddest socks.
Red Ribbon Week honors Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who was killed in 1985. Following his death, high school students in California began joining “Camarena Clubs,” and pledged to lead drug-free lives. Parent groups embraced the campaign, and, in 1988, Congress proclaimed the first U.S. Red Ribbon Campaign. Red Ribbon Week is generally celebrated during the last full week in October. Avon Grove scheduled its campaign to avoid conflicts with previously scheduled building-level activities.
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Avon Grove School District serves about 5,440 students in a rapidly growing area of Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The District includes four schools: Penn London Elementary School, Avon Grove Intermediate School, Fred S. Engle Middle School, and Avon Grove High School. For more information, visit the District’s Web site at www.avongrove.org.
Posted:
September 25, 2007 12:12 PM
