Libby Elementary School students enjoy Red Ribbon festivities

Libby Elementary School educators used an informative and fun approach while hosting Red Ribbon Week.

The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week.

At Libby, it ran from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.

Dr. Brittany Katzer, Libby Elementary School counselor and behavior interventionist, said it is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs.

Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t. Yet, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.

Red Ribbon Week is a week set aside to celebrate a drug free lifestyle and to encourage young people to make smart decisions and be healthy.

This year's theme for Red Ribbon Week was “Life is a Movie: Film Drug Free.” Students participated in participate in various presentations and activities designed to promote mental health and wellness and to develop healthy coping strategies.

"We focused on ways we can protect our brains and stay healthy, well and drug free," Katzer said.

Throughout the week, students wore clothing that showed their favorite superhero or movie character, Halloween costumes and ended with a “Rally in Red” on Friday. 

They also gathered in the football field in the shape of a ribbon and had an aerial drone photo taken by Richard Hader.

There were contests for door decorating and paper bags.

The paper bag winners included George Berschneider, Kallista James, Aspen Etcheverry, Hailey Williamson, Khori Skeers, Faith Riley and Quinn Fantozzi. 

Here are the winners of the door decorating class:

Mrs. Rose: Superheroes

Mrs. Farmer: Nike

Ms. Youngstrom: Gaming controller

Ms. Wahl: Use your brain - 3D

Mrs. Obst: Me like me film reel

Ms. Bell: Say no to drugs-flix

Mr. Brittain: Lorax tree with bookmarks

    Here are the Libby Elementary School Red Ribbon Week paper bag contest winners. From left, front row, are George Berschneider, Kallista James and Aspen Etcheverry. From left, back row, are Hailey Williamson, Khori Skeers, and Dr. Katzer holding absent winners' paper bags (Faith Riley and Quinn Fantozzi). (Courtesy photo)