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Annual Red Ribbon Week at PVMS Kicks off a Series of Health Related Events and Observances
From October 22nd through 26th Putnam Valley Middle School (PVMS) celebrated its annual "Red Ribbon Week," targeting the prevention of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as encouraging diversity awareness and safe decision making.
Each day addressed a particular issue of substance abuse by encouraging students to dress up and have fun:
Monday, Oct. 22nd: "Band Against Drugs" / Wear Red to Support Red Ribbon Week.
Tuesday, Oct. 23rd: "Put A Lid On Drugs" / Wear A Hat!
Wednesday, Oct. 24th: "Drugs & I Don't Mix" / Mismatch your clothes!
Thursday, Oct. 25th: "Say NO with Flair, Wear Crazy Hair" / The crazier the hair, the better!
Friday, Oct. 26th: "Dress to Impress, No Drugs Equals Success" / Dress in your most fabulous attire!
Red Ribbon Week is a project of the Putnam Valley Health Advisory Council, whose chairperson, Pam Darreff, is a longtime health teacher and athletic coach at PVMS, and by the Putnam Valley Middle School Student Government.
In addition to Red Ribbon Week festivities, PVMS hosted a special 7th & 8th Grade Assembly - BigPictureSmallWorld www.bigpicturesmallworld.com
According to the program description, The BigPicture Leadership Programs begin with a brief interactive exercise that involves the entire audience in determining and exercising the qualities of leadership that everyone possesses and uses. Vision, values, knowledge, communication, character, initiative, risk taking, perseverance, problem solving, integrity, and action are illustrated in the context of our rapidly changing global technology, economy and culture. Youth's role as change agents, students as leaders of change, the role of education in increasing the power and effectiveness of leadership, responsible leadership in the 21st century, and leadership roles for youth in today's world are all covered in a multimedia, interactive mode. Students come away with an increased understanding of their world and what they can do to as leaders to make it a better place.
Red Ribbon Week is immediately followed by the Annual Putnam Valley Wellness Fair, held at PVMS on November 6 from 6:30 to 8:30pm, and Blood Drive, held on November 7 from 2:30 pm to 8pm. The Wellness Fair is an evening event emphasizing the positive aspects of mental and physical health- prevention, safety issues, and making good choices. Representatives of many community organizations, including hospitals, volunteer ambulance workers, and other organizations, are on hand to demonstrate and teach the fairgoers. Later in November is The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout®, which is held every year to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in the hope that they will quit forever. This year's event will be held on November 15, 2007, and will be promoted by the Health Advisory Council.
Moving into the new year, March 11th of 2008 will be the annual Straight Talk night in Putnam Valley; with more than a dozen workshops being held at PVMS from 7 pm to 9 pm. Workshops will address everything from bullying, name-calling and adolescent depression to drunken driving, club drugs and AIDS prevention. Straight Talk is another program of the Putnam Valley Health Advisory Council. Workshops are led, not only by Putnam Valley teachers and students, but also by experts from regional medical facilities, law enforcement, hospitals, and mental health and treatment programs, and are designed to be appropriate for either students and parents, students only, or parents only.
Putnam Valley has a long and distinguished history of targeting the prevention of substance abuse and encouraging healthy choices for teens and preteens. In addition to the HAC-sponsored programs and events, Peers Influence Peers Partnership- an independent nonprofit organization run by Mr. Frank Reale, a retired Putnam Valley teacher and current Board of Education Trustee, and a volunteer board of highly accomplished local adult talent- is a highly acclaimed, high school student group producing video public service announcements (PSAs) and longer videos on issues of substance abuse.
All three Putnam Valley schools have programs emphasizing diversity awareness, antibullying, and acceptance as key aspects of school life.
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