Shrewsbury Borough School embarks on its annual anti-drug-abuse and anti-bullying effort this week. (Photo by Rebecca Desfosse. Click to enlarge)
By REBECCA DESFOSSE
It’s a week of red at the Shrewsbury Borough School as the Shrewsbury Community Alliance hosts a slate of events to combat drug abuses and bullying.
Dubbed ‘Red Ribbon Week, the effort focuses on substance abuse and bullying- prevention awareness. Red ribbons will be placed around the school and students will participate in activities with the message to take a stand against drugs and bullying.
Each year, the school and the alliance work together pm Red Ribbon Week, one of the oldest and largest drug prevention campaigns in the country. The week honors the cause for which DEA Agent Enrique “KikI” Camarena, who was killed in the line of duty in 1985, gave his life. The red ribbon has become a symbol for thousands of Americans to show that they are united against a drug-free youth.
According to alliance co-chair Nikki Barreca, this year’s theme is “My extreme commitment is being drug free.” Going along with the “extreme” theme, the students will be treated to a “Wheels of Freestyle” BMX stunt show with a drug-free message on Wednesday.
“Our activities this week will reinforce with the students the power of believing in themselves, resisting peer pressure, and how to stand up to bullying by ‘speaking up, reaching out and being a friend,’” Barreca said in an announcement.
Barreca told redbankgreen that the alliance hopes to spread the message of Red Ribbon Week community-wide.
For now, however, the red ribbons are limited to the school. Red tulips, sponsored by the alliance and Shrewsbury PBA Local #308, will be sent home with the students at the end of the week to be planted as reminders of the anti-drug, anti-bullying effort, she said.
