Students throughout the district took a stand against drugs and pledged to make healthy decisions during the district’s annual United We Stand for a Drug-Free Community Week held in October. This special week of guest speakers and lessons on how to live a healthy lifestyle parallels Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s largest drug-use prevention campaign.

In each of the elementary schools, students signed pledges to live a drug-free lifestyle. At Idle Hour Elementary School, Long Island Railroad representative Chrisann Fabio spoke with students about safety on and around railroad tracks. Each class also made Spooky Scary Skeletons to ”Scare Drugs Away” and to bring attention to the importance of putting healthy things into their bodies.

At Cherokee Street Elementary School, students listened to a drug assembly given by Maggie Caraciolo from Northwell Health Cohen Children’s Hospital, who spoke to students about drugs, especially the impacts of smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

“When you say no to drugs and smoking, you are saying yes to sports, family and health and saying yes to life,” Ms. Caraciolo said.

John Pearl Elementary School students attended assemblies about healthy habits and drug prevention from Northwell Health representatives. They signed a pledge wall to be drug free and participated in themed activities throughout the week. Students had fun participating in Put a Cap on Drugs Day in which the school community wore hats to a drug-free message.

Edward J. Bosti Elementary School students collected hygiene materials for wash kits, which will be distributed to Long Island’s social services department. The collection took place to help community residents take care of themselves.

Date Added: 11/10/2022