Wesley College Celebrates 16th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Week
A recent survey by the National Drug Abuse Control Council and the University of Belize shows that the use of drugs among students is on the rise and it is also prevalent among students between fourteen and sixteen years. The survey says that children as young as ten years are experimenting with of alcohol and other drugs. This week at Wesley College, students and teachers have been engaged in creative ways on how to prevent drug use. Duane Moody headed over to the high school where Red Ribbon Day was in full swing.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Since the beginning of the week, Wesley College has been celebrating its sixteenth Annual Red Ribbon (Drug Prevention) Week under the theme, “Love Yourself. Be Drug Free.” Students, faculty and staff as well as parents have been engaged in awareness activities in the prevention of drug-use. Today, following a mass at Church, the school celebrated Red Ribbon Day with several activities.
Elizabeth Goff
Elizabeth Goff, School Counselor, Wesley College
“We started back in 1999 and we started this work because we need to help our students to make good decisions; to have the information to feel good about themselves so that they make good decisions. We know that we live in a country that is faced with big drug problems. Drug prevention is everybody’s business. And the school has an important role along with the other stakeholders in the child’s life.”
Aside for a homeroom mixed-talent competition that was held on school grounds today, each homeroom also competed in its annual Class Hat Competition. According to third former, Devin Milton, it took the class four days to put together.
Devin Milton
Devin Milton, 3rd Form Student, Wesley College
“The teachers designed it to show that when yo smoke weed too much, yo either go crazy, your lungs get damaged, it leads to accidents and other risk factors come with smoking weed and other drugs. The basic design from the theme depicts be drug free and be yourself.”
Thomas Oliver, Teacher, Wesley College
“I had a lot of toilet paper rolls at home and I decided to turn it into a hat so the entire structure is made with toilet paper rolls. The flames coming out are toilet paper rolls cut out and made flat. And so I looked up different things you would do to love yourself and so each flame is depicting something you can do to love yourself and be drug free.”
Edna Waight
Edna Waight, Teacher, Wesley College
“My hat represents miracle and miracle is the princess of the jungle. She is here to spread the word and message to simply don’t do it; love yourself and be drug free. Her array of colors and everything—the green, the gold. The gold reflects royalty because we are nothing less. We are all wonderfully and flawlessly made and so we are all royalties in this kingdom.”
A Red Ribbon was worn by all students, faculty and staff of the institution today as a catalyst and symbol for the school to say that ribbon by ribbon, the school community is united for drug-free youths. Principal, Joan Tillett, says that while a week has been set aside, awareness continues all year round.
Joan Phillips
Joan Tillett, Principal, Wesley College
“We try to see how wide we can go. We take part in the sports, violence prevention, no bullying month, drug awareness week; we do it all. And it doesn’t take away because we have a Thursday afternoon that we label as activity afternoons, but then we encourage them to incorporate certain things throughout the curriculum. So when you are doing English for instance during this week, focus on essays on drugs; math you can look at the statistics of drug use…let’s do a pie-chart or a bar graph and then in different ways they get the message.”
Elizabeth Goff
“It is our job to do our part and that’s what we are trying to do. To do our part, the home, the school, the community working hand in hand. And so even as we are working with our students, we also know that we must engage our parents. Last week was mid-term reports distribution days and we used the opportunity to share with the parents too because they have a very important role in helping their teen remain drug free.”
Red Ribbon Week is supported by the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC). Duane Moody for News Five.
Students will also participate in Poetry and Poster Competitions and the signing of the Red Ribbon Week Pledge Banner.
