Marching by the mall
Village students going en masse
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Students will empty the Village School building at 1 p.m. Wednesday when they take part in a parade to show they are drug-free, according to Amy Chapman, Village student support specialist.
All of the students -- approximately 360 -- will march along West 15th Avenue from the school to the back parking lot of the Flinthills Mall, north to West 18th Avenue, then back south on Wheeler Street to the school. There, a photographer will stand on the school roof and take a photograph of the children spelling out "drug free."
Students hope that Emporians will line the parade route in support of their cause.
"We're really involved in this campaign," Chapman said.
"We had to get the parade permit from the police department. We're going to have a police officer in front of us and a police officer behind us, and some bike officers," she said, "and hopefully it's going to be a big thing."
We had to get the parade permit from the police department. We’re going to have a police officer in front of us and a police officer behind us and some bike officers, and hopefully it’s going to be a big thing.”
The parade is part of Red Ribbon Week activities throughout the school district. Several individual schools have scheduled their own activities.
The Morris Brothers will return to Village School, and Logan Avenue as well, this week to entertain and educate the kids about how to respond to bullying. Their presentations are made using humor and exaggerations that the youngsters will remember when they encounter bullies, or peers who try to coax or force them into doing something they don't want to do.
"That's kind of their main theme, bullying," Chapman said, "but it's also about good choices."
Happiness08 (anonymous) says...
This is great! Hooray for whoever thought of the idea! Much more to my liking then some men trying to look like drag (drug) queens. Interesting. Only one letter difference between drag and drug. Maybe that was the inspiration.
October 28, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Don't take my next comment wrong. I commend these kids for doing this don't get me wrong there. but...
Atleast the drag queens aren't lying because of peer pressure and parents wanting them to be drug free. The drag queens are doing this to eard money for a cause. Speaking from experience. I went to all of these drug free things in primary, elementary and High School and about 25% of my peers that participated smoked, drank or smoked pot or worse. I hope its changed since I was in school but I don't see it.
Anyway, Kids have fun and be safe.
October 28, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )