Drug Prevention Week, Elections Mesh to Create Teachable Moment CLAYTON-- Before voting, a citizen must register, and just as importantly, registered voters who exercise this right must do their homework before casting their votes for the candidates of their choosing. At Clayton Middle School, students are learning about the voting process and what must be done before decisions are cast in conjunction with the annual observance of Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31. Red Ribbon Week began in the late 1980s when a Drug Enforcement Agent was brutally murdered by a druglord. Since then, schools across the nation have observed a week of activities that promote drug-free living, including the distribution of red ribbons. To promote the drug-free lifestyle and teach the electoral process, Clayton Middle School teachers have developed a lesson plan spanning two weeks. It began on Monday, October 25 with student voter registration day, followed by "Wear Red, White, and Blue Day" on Tuesday, October 26 to show patriotic spirit and support drug-free living. On Wednesday, October 27, students delivered campaign speeches kicking off their quests for the "I Elect to be Drug-Free" title. A homebase primary election was then held. The speaker with the best drug prevention message in each grade will win the red ribbon for their homebase. The chosen candidates will then speak at the Conventions for the entire school, scheduled for sixth grade on Tuesday, November 2 and seventh and eighth grades on Thursday, November 4. The candidates will meet visiting VIPs including Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod and "Nero, the Drug Dog." Thursday, October 28 is a designated Dress to Impress Day, urging students to show how serious they are about the campaign. The SADD club will hold an electoral vote on Thursday to narrow the winner's list down to one best candidate from each grade. On Friday, October 29, students can wear "combat" clothes for "Combat Dress Day" signifying the war against drugs. Students will vote in their homebase classes for the candidate of their choice on Friday, November 5. The winner will be announced during the afternoon announcements. CMS Principal Debbie Woodruff will present the "Best CMS Drug Prevention Speaker" to the Johnston County Board of Education. She has also committed to sharing her principal's seat by giving the winner the title of "Co-Principal" on January 4.
