The Okarche Elementary School faculty and staff worked to inspire their students to be “drug free” by participating with their students in the week-long Red Ribbon Week.

Observed throughout last week, Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually.

One of the days - Wednesday, Oct. 30 - was “Team Up Against Drugs Day.”

The faculty and staff became a team of M&Ms to get the attention of their students and advocate a drug free lifestyle.

“Okarche Public School feels stressing the importance of a drug-free life for its students is crucial to the well-being of their students,” said Ann Hufnagel, an elementary librarian and reading teacher and one of the coordinators for Red Ribbon Week. The week’s activities for Red Ribbon Week are created by the elementary school Youth Action Council, which is sponsored by Savannah Gilley. Jaci Guheb, a third grade aide who also owns a t-shirt screening business, suggested the concept of “Team M&M” and she created the shirts. Themes and dress-up days throughout the week also included: Monday - Camo Day; “Hide From Drugs” Tuesday - Tie-Dye Day; “Peace Out to Drugs” Wednesday - Twin Day; “Team Up Against Drugs” Thursday - Future Career Day; “Your Future is Bright Without Drugs” Friday - Warrior Day; “Our School is Drug Free”