David Webb joined his daughter Reagan for the tailgate party at Madison Elementary School during Red Ribbon Week. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – For Red Ribbon Week on Oct. 26-30, the students, their families and their teachers at Madison Elementary School ran a campaign to ‘team up’ against drug abuse.

Teachers and administrators planned a drug-free theme for each day. “The students were welcome to dress in a way that matched the theme,” principal Melissa Mims said.

The week opened with the theme, “Peace out! – Sock it to drugs!” with students wearing crazy socks and tie-dyed clothes.

On Oct. 27, families committed to “Team up against drugs” with students wearing a shirt for their favorite sports team. Parents and guardians were invited to join their children for a tailgate party at lunchtime. The promotion “was a wonderful way to support a child’s pledge to remain drug-free and spend time together as a school family,” Mims said.

Rainy weather forced the tailgating inside, but Madison elementary families still rallied in the cafeteria and chowed down on hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans and chips. Buzz, Madison elementary’s mascot, also joined the tailgate fun.

Also on Oct. 27, Sgt. Ralph Dawe, Madison elementary’s special resource officer with Madison Police Department, spoke to parents. Dawe shared facts about peer pressures that children and adolescents are facing today. “This information can help parents tailor specific conversations with their child in a manner that they want information shared,” Mims said.

Dawe also led a session for fifth-graders who had graduated from his “Too Good for Drugs” program.

Other dress-up themes were “Be a ‘Jean-ius’ and Say No to Drugs” for students to wear jeans and red shirts, “Dress for Success” to wear clothing that represented their future career and “Be Strong, Say No to Drugs” when students wore a superhero cape.

The Fall Book Fair also was held during Red Ribbon Week.

Founded in 1985, the first nationwide Red Ribbon campaign was led by National Family Partnership when parents and youth wore red ribbons to symbolize their statement against drugs.

For more information, visit redribbon.org.