By NORINE ROWE
Public Affairs Department

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Bright red Frisbees, balsa-wood flyers, pencils and erasers donated by NAVAIR’s Logistics Division were the prizes that spurred students to take part in a recent drug education program at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Lexington Park.

From Oct. 27-31, students at Carver Elementary joined students from across the country as they celebrated Red Ribbon Week activities sponsored by the national Campaign Drug-Free America program to promote drug education and awareness.

Theme competitions throughout the week at Carver Elementary conveyed a daily drug education message. The first day of Red Ribbon Week, students were encouraged to “Team Up Against Drugs” by wearing their favorite team jersey or shirt. The next day, they “Put a Cap on Drugs” by wearing a fun hat to school. They also wore a lot of red to promote “Red Ribbon Pride” and red, white and blue to signify “United We Stand for a Drug-Free Land.” The last day of Red Ribbon Week, students wore fun masks to “Mask Out Drugs.”

AD1(AW/SW) Sean Mack, who coordinates NAVAIR’s Personal Excellence Partnership with the school, handed out prizes for the theme competitions.

“The contributions were fantastic,” said guidance counselor Lori Swick, who organized Red Ribbon Week activities at Carver Elementary. “Because of the Navy’s support, we had lots of prizes that helped us spread an important drug education message among our students.”

Throughout Red Ribbon Week, teachers at Carver Elementary conducted supplemental activities to promote drug education and drug abuse prevention. From Drug Awareness Bingo to crossword puzzles, students learned about drugs, their use and abuse as well as strategies for living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Students also signed a drug-free pledge and received a red ribbon emblazoned with, “Say No to Drugs.”

In addition to supporting Red Ribbon Week activities at Carver Elementary, volunteers from NAVAIR’s Logistics Division tutor and mentor students at the school on a weekly basis.

“Our Navy volunteers make our school community stronger,” Swick said. “They are a great asset to our students.”

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AD1(AW/SW) Sean Mack, coordinator of a Personal Excellence Partnership between NAVAIR’s Logistics Division and George Washington Carver Elementary School, awards a prize to first-grader Mark Hammond who won in the “Put a Cap on Drugs” theme competition. Each day of Red Ribbon Week, Carver students took part in activities promoting drug education and awareness.
Photo by Norine Rowe