Kids already planning for Red Ribbon Days

Thirteen-year-olds Taylor Horwitz, Tehylor Palley and Paige Johnson already are making plans for their school's Red Ribbon Days. That's a week-long program in October that urges kids to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

The three 8th-graders are members of the TREND chapter at Parkway Central Middle School. Last year, the chapter won a competition for the best Red Ribbon Days program.

Last month, the girls attended the 4-day 2003 National TREND Conference to learn ways to make Red Ribbon Days more effective.

They don't know exactly what events will be in this year's Red Ribbon Days. But, Tehylor said she's sure there'll be fund-raising. "Our school does lots of fund raisers," she said.

Paige Johnson said last year the Red Ribbon Days featured a lollipop sale, called "Kiss Drugs Good-bye."

Tehylor said kids also sold red ribbons. Proceeds went to "families whose homes had burned down," she said.

One event the girls hope happens again is the appearance on Channel 5's "Good Morning, St. Louis" segment. Last year, Taylor Horwitz was in the group from Parkway Central Middle who were interviewed outside the Channel 5 studios.

She said, "We had a bunch of signs and big posters and were on TV. That was neat."

Advisor Carole Crowell said the TREND kids start planning for Red Ribbon Days soon after school starts. Parkway Central Middle School began its year on Thursday, Aug. 21.

The local TREND officials have scheduled two area planning workshops early in October. One will be on Thursday, Oct. 2, at St. John's United Methodist Church in the city of St. Louis. A second session will be Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Armory in Festus, Mo.

Red Ribbon Days will be held in area schools the week of October 23-31.

(If your school isn't involved in Red Ribbon Days, there's still time. Call TREND's St. Louis office at (314) 962-3456, Ext. 329. Ask for Ginny Shaller or Karen Jones.)

Paige Johnson said the TREND program keeps her "very busy." She added, "If I'm busy, then I don't get in trouble."

Tehylor Palley said, "I don't have any friends who use drugs, tobacco or alcohol."

But, she add there also are personal health reasons for avoiding those substances. "I cough a lot when exposed to smoke," she said. In addition, her youngest sister has asthma. "An asthma attack can come at any time," Tehylor said.

Taylor Horwitz said she likes the combination of fun and learning that TREND provides.

She said, "We learn what we shouldn't do. Then, it's important to get those lessons across to other people."

The girls said the Red Ribbon Days at school involve a lot of reminders to kids about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Last year, their TREND chapter members decorated with red ribbons throughout the school. In addition, everyone was urged to wear special red bracelets. There were prizes for those kids who won the bracelets every day.

There was also a school-wide Red Ribbon "noise" event. That was to see who could make the loudest noise with homemade instruments in honor of the anti-drug campaign.

There was also a lunch-time raffle where kids drew out questions and won prizes if they could answer them correctly.

Co-advisor Carole Crowell is a health teacher at the school. She shares the advising with Andy Shanker. Ms. Crowell said, most of the time, school fund-raising efforts that are simple are the most successful.

The three girls also have other things on their mind for the coming year and beyond.

For instance, Taylor acts in plays and takes dance lessons. "Last year, I had dance lessons once a week. This year, I'm going to have two lessons a week," she said.

She's planning a career in medicine. "I like to work with kids and I want to be a doctor. Maybe I can do both by being a pediatrician."

Tehylor and Paige both want careers in business.

Tehylor wants to be a business executive. Paige said she wants to own her own pet store. She's got a head start on pets. Her family has a hedgehog, a rabbit, a bird, two dogs and a snake. "We also want to have a saltwater aquarium," she said.