Red Ribbon Week Brings Drug-Free Presentations to Schools
UNK softball players talk to students at Northeast Elementary about why they choose to stay drug free.
During Red Ribbon Week, Positive Pressure and Kearney/Holdredge Elks Lodge #984 visited Northeast, Glenwood, Amherst, Emerson, Gibbon, and Shelton Elementary schools to give presentations on staying drug-free.
Accompanying them were athletes from the UNK women’s basketball, softball, and soccer teams, men’s track and field, and the UNK Spirit Squad. The Elks also passed out drug-free resources, 40 Developmental Assets handouts, as well as prizes, such as wristbands, posters, treats, and more. Funding for materials provided during Red Ribbon Week came from the Elks National Foundation Promise Grant.
ReThink Your Drink
Activate Buffalo County Coordinator Holden Armstrong presents the ReThink Your Drink display to a class at Park Elementary.
In October, Activate Buffalo County Coordinator Holden Armstrong visited fourth graders at Park Elementary to give a presentation of the ReThink your Drink display.
Students learned about calories, sugar content in popular drinks, how much exercise is needed to burn off calories, when to consume sports drinks, and more. Students particularly enjoyed the interactive element of guessing which drinks had the most sugar and sharing their stories about choosing water over sugary drinks.
“Presenting to classrooms and getting to interact with young students is one of the best parts of my job,” Holden said. “Their energy and enthusiasm is amazing, and they come up with some great questions. It really keeps you on your toes, and you have to be ready to answer anything.”
For more information on ReThink Your Drink, or to request the display board in your school, classroom, or other environment, visit ActivateBuffaloCounty.com/rethink or contact Holden by email.
Crosswalk Safety from Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School Coordinator Kate Hannon teaches a crosswalk safety class.
Safe Routes to School Coordinator Kate Hannon has been working with several Buffalo County schools to implement walking programs and provide education on active commuting for students.
She recently taught a crosswalk safety class at Northeast Elementary, where she had helped implement Walking Wednesdays. “It’s great to be able to teach and interact with the students,” Kate said. “The more the students are exposed to crosswalks and bike and pedestrian safety, the more confident and knowledgeable they are.”
Learn more about Safe Routes to School by visiting ActivateBuffaloCounty.com/SRTS.