Teens for Healthy Youth celebrated Red Ribbon Week at Bluffton High School to encourage their peers to live drug-free and make positive choices. The 2024 National Red Ribbon Week Theme is “Life is a Movie, Film Drug-Free.” To launch Red Ribbon Week THY held an assembly for students with a panel of speakers. The purpose of the assembly was to promote safe driving, including never driving impaired or distracted. Jenifer Klepesky, a parent and community advocate, spoke about losing her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend, a graduate of Bluffton High, to a drunk and drugged driver. Sergeant Master Higgins of the Highway Patrol talked to students about doing the right thing even in tough situations. Local Attorney Robert “Tabor” Vaux Jr. spoke to the high school students about being a smart driver and how the ramifications of bad choices like driving impaired can impact one for a long time and those around them. SRO Frazier encouraged the teens to sign up for the Town of Bluffton’s Stay Safe Driving Campaign. Katherine Tracy, THY member & senior at Bluffton High, introduced the speakers and issued a call to action to her peers to make good choices year-round for the good of themselves and their community. The event was incorporated into Bluffton High’s “No Cap News” student news program. To watch the video click here.
THY created a red balloon arch with the help of LCAHY Board Member & THY parent, Dr. Stevens of Wright Directions. During the week THY used the table to share prevention resources and to encourage kids to sign their banner that unites the school against bullying and drugs. THY also used Instagram to create a collage of students, teachers, and administrators proud to live a healthy, drug-free life. Throughout the week THY members read morning announcements in English and Spanish to share the purpose of Red Ribbon Week. They also sponsored a dress-down week to get the students involved in celebrating Red Ribbon Week and a drug-free life. THY plans to educate their peers year-round on the risks and dangers associated with using drugs and alcohol. Coordinating school-wide informational assemblies to educate youth is an activity in LCAHY’s 12-Month Action Plan under Strategy 1 Providing Information.
A local attorney, Bluffton SRO, state trooper, Bluffton High senior, and community advocate came together to present to students the importance of driving unimpaired and safely.
Around 800 students and teachers attended the Red Ribbon Week panel presentation.
Over 800 students signed the Town of Bluffton’s Stay Safe Driving Pledge.
THY promoted Red Ribbon Week Life is a Movie Live Drug-Free Theme by sponsoring movie dress-up days.
Bluffton High students on the left dressed up for “Breakfast Club Day” in pajama pants and students on the left wore tie dye for “Austin Powers Day”.
THY made a collage of pictures of students, teachers, and administrators who are proud to be drug-free and healthy and posted it to their THY and BLHS Instagram.
LCAHY Board member and THY parent, Dr. Stevens, donated and helped make a balloon arch for the Red Ribbon Week Table. At the Red Ribbon Week table, THY provided prevention information and information on how to join THY.
THY Banner united the school to stand against drugs and bullying during October National Bullying Prevention Month and National Youth Substance Abuse Month.
THY used red solo cups to write out Live Drug-Free on the fence located near the football and JROTC field to remind students to make good choices all year long.
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