Red Ribbon Week got under way Monday with an assembly at John H. Woodson Junior High School that included a special visit and message from Police Commissioner Novelle Francis and students performing skits, poetry and music.
The local theme was "Dream, Believe, Achieve, Succeed." Francis asked how many students knew where they wanted to be in 10 years and how they were preparing themselves for their dream. Francis then gave a hard-hitting message.
"Let’s not fit in the profile of black and Hispanic men who end up in the hospital or jail by 25," Francis said. "If you don’t focus on your dream you may be in that profile — jail or a casket. You’re going down by yourself — your boys aren’t going to be there."
He told the students about horrible things he has seen in his 22 years of service in the V.I. Police Department — going to numerous crime scenes, seeing victims lying lifeless in pools of blood. There’s a better life, Francis told them.
"If you dream it, believe you can achieve it and succeed," he said. "You can be role models and make a difference."
More than 400 students assembled Monday for the inaugural program in the clean, bright, newly upgraded auditorium, which has dark orange plastic theater seats and off-white walls. School Administrator Christa Ann Molloy told the students to make sure the auditorium stays as nice as it is now.
The students presenting topics were broken up into seven teams with up to 10 students representing groups of teachers they have in common.
The JHWS Cheerleaders, all sporting long red Dickies shorts and red tank tops over white tees, got the students pumped for the program yelling "don’t do drugs" and chanting "dream, believe, achieve, succeed." Teams read poetry and sang rap songs about staying drug free, saying no to drugs and spreading love, peace, joy and harmony.
The skits on selling and buying drugs were so lifelike it was possible to believe the students had witnessed deals first hand. They simulated a gang fight that looked real, with kids pretending to be kicking and hitting each other and students playing police running in and breaking it up.
"I realized from the program I need to get a good education and follow my dreams," Sonieliz Melendez said. "And to never do drugs and tell others not to do drugs."
School officials awarded trophies and certificates to Red Ribbon Week poster contest team winners.
"The teams did a very good job today promoting the core values of dream, believe, achieve and succeed," said eighth grader Jah’Disha Augustine.
Red Ribbon Week began in 1985 after U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agent Enrique Camarena died in the line of duty while investigating the drug pipeline in Mexico.
"The students need to understand the message, not just today and this week, but throughout their lives," said Sharon Canton, chair of the program and school guidance counselor.