By Tim Leeds/Havre Daily News/tleeds@havredailynews.com
Rocky Boy Elementary School is joining the high school and junior high in holding Red Ribbon Week activities for the first time, including an activity Tuesday that will involve the entire community.
"We're going to have a Wear Red Day (Tuesday) and form a people chain around our school and try to get our community involved," said Evelyn Gopher, a counselor at the school. "We're trying to keep our school drug-free."
During national Red Ribbon Week, people wear ribbons to show their opposition to the use of illegal drugs, and in memory of federal Enforcement Agency special agent Enrique Camarena, who was killed by drug traffickers in 1985.
Gopher said the elementary school has activities planned for every day this week, including talks by people from Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation's chemical dependency program and from its health services. The activities include theme sports events, like Wednesday's Slam Dunk - Drugs are Junk basketball contest and Knock Down Drugs bowling contest.
Lil' Southern Cree drum group will perform for the students Friday morning, and the students will hold anti-drug Halloween parties that day.
There will also be daily drawings with prizes for students who wear their ribbons, and prizes awarded Friday to all students who still have their ribbons, Gopher said.
In the past, the elementary school didn't do much more for Red Ribbon Week than put up some decorations, she said.
"It is the first time we've had something that goes on all week," Gopher said.
