Red Ribbon Week, JEL, and Mr. Davie!

Most people were aware that this past week was Red Ribbon Week; but Jordan7, Sarah7, and I, Katelynn7, thought an interview with Mrs. Paulette Rasmussen, one of our wonderful guidance councilors, would be a good way to get more information about this topic as well as the JEL program and the speaker that was in the high school on Friday! Below is our interview with Mrs. Rasmussen.

Q:What is Red Ribbon Week and why is it important?
A:Red Ribbon Week is all about the awareness of drugs and alcohol.

Q:When and how was the idea of Red Ribbon Week started?
A:Red Ribbon Week started in 1985 soon after a 37 year old police officer was shot when he was on his way to have lunch with his wife. This police officer happened to be working with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and the shooter purposely killed him because of it!

Q:What did the high school do this week?
A:The high school had a speaker come to talk to the junior and senior P.E. classes as well as the study halls throughout the day on Friday. The JEL members also made red ribbons and hung them up around the school.

Q:I know the elementary has dress up days during Red Ribbon Week, do they do anything else?
A: They have class room guidance classes and the "Responsibility" skit that the teachers do every year.

Q:Does the middle school participate in Red Ribbon Week?
A:The middle school has a lip sync that the facility puts on in November because we want awareness of drug and alcohol to be year round.

Q:I've never heard of JEL before did it just start this year?
A:No, its been around for a while and that is the problem we are having. Not very many students and parents know about JEL so we dont have as many members as we would like.

Q:What does JEL stand for?
A: JEL means Just Eliminate Lies.

Q:Is JEL just a group the does activities during Red Ribbon Week?
A:No, JEL is a year round program and the members of JEL go to the elementary schools in Harlan and speak to children.

Q:Are there any big goals that JEL has this year?
A:Yes, the members would like to start a program like this in the middle school. It would be called YEL(Youth Eliminating Lies.)

Q:What was Mr. Davie talking about in the auditorium?
A:A lot of what he was saying was about addiction to drugs and the effect they have.

Q:Does Mr. Davie do any other activities with the school through out the year? A:Yes, Mr. Davie trys to make it to some of the JEL meetings.


BubbleShare: Share photos - halloween photos If you are interested in joining the JEL program stop in the guidance office and talk to Mrs. Rasmussen! This has Been Katelynn7, Sarah7, and Jordan7 for HCHS News!

Here is the PowerPoint that Mr. Davie used on Friday.