Fox High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America are making sure younger students stay drug free.
The students will be teaching drug-free awareness lessons throughout the week to Fox elementary and middle school students.
“We are the teacher for 45 minutes, an hour,” senior Jordan Kilcrease said.
Each lesson has a theme with students receiving treats that correspond to the theme.
“They all get excited when they see the candy,” senior Shytana Johnston said.
Today’s theme is “Don’t be a Dum Dum and get mixed up with drugs.” Wednesday is Lucky Charms, Thursday is candy and Friday is pretzels.
However, the high school students want the children to remember more than the treats.
On their first visits into the classroom on Friday, each student signed a pledge to remain drug, alcohol and tobacco free for life. At the end of this week, the students will receive a certificate to remind them of their pledge.
“We hope to make a lasting impression. We want to walk away from school thinking we made a difference in someone’s life,” senior Jill Stopera said.
With that goal in mind, the students share stories from their own lives about the effects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
“It’s personal. We state things that have happened,” Stopera said.
The older students have been impressed by how much the younger ones already know.
“I didn’t know that much when I was little,” senior Katie Whitener said.
Even with their extra knowledge, the younger students have shown their appreciation to their older role models.
“They make you feel special. It makes their day for us to come and talk to them,” Kilcrease said.
When it is not Red Ribbon Week, the FCCLA has senior aides who visit with the younger students.
“You can make a difference in their life by seeing them throughout the school year,” senior Crystal Crumley said.
Jennifer Lindsey 221-6536
