Students Decorate for Red Ribbon Week

Unalaska’s youth celebrated Red Ribbon Week in late October with activities put on through both the Unalaska City School and the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA). Red Ribbon Week is an annual event that encourages children to embrace a healthy lifestyle, free of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Red Ribbon Week is one of the oldest and most widely established drug and alcohol prevention campaigns in the country, and serves to educate children and communities about the dangers of substance abuse.

Unalaska students celebrated Red Ribbon Week with this year’s motto: “Not just for a week, but for LIFE!” All grades Kindergarten through 12^th raised awareness by participating in various activities within the school such as a classroom door decorating contest, a poster competition, and answering True/False questions for the chance to be entered in a drawing. PSAs were read over the loudspeaker every day and each student received his or her own red ribbon to wear throughout the week as well as ribbons to tie onto cars in both of the school parking lots. Students and staff dressed up according to the daily themes which included Western Day, Crazy Hair Day, Red Day, Superhero Day, and Blue & Gold Raiders Pride Day. Prizes and keepsakes commemorating Red Ribbon Week were given out throughout the week to remind students of the benefits of saying “No” to drugs and alcohol. 

Disney Williams from APIA coordinated multiple Red Ribbon Week events around town which were held at PCR, the Senior Citizens Center, and the United Methodist Church. The Methodist Church welcomed all families for a balloon-release to demonstrate their aversion to drug and alcohol abuse for the community.  A “Say BOO to Drugs” Halloween party was held at the Senior Center for children and community members to share tea and snacks with the elders, as well as get a chance to win door prizes and wear their costumes. PCR hosted an after-school drop-in program for grades 1-4 which included an hour of games and activities such as a marble relay race, a sack race, and a tug of war. Andrew Miller from PCR co-coorinated the program and said, "The kids all had a great time and the event highlighted the importance of having a healthy body and promoted living drug-free lives."