The Washington 4-5 Center students decorated their classroom doors to promote “Anti-Bullying Week” in association with Red Ribbon Week.
“We do this to teach the students not to do drugs or bully,” said Washington Center Principal Beth Foss.
Students in grade four and five participated in the decorating, and also worked together to create a “Unity Day” puzzle. The puzzle pieces acted as a contract, each piece explained that, by signing, the student agreed to not tease anyone, and the importance of sharing and being respectful to everyone. Each Washington Center student read out loud in front of their class what the puzzle piece said before they signed their piece and put it together to display on the wall.

“We have been supporting Red Ribbon Week for five to six years,” said Foss, “We just started door decorating about three years ago. They stay decorated for a long time, it’s fun to look at and reminds the kids what they learned.”
On Friday, teachers and students wore red to support Red Ribbon Week, which this year started Monday, Oct. 23, and runs until Tuesday. It falls around Halloween every year.
Foss explained, “We had a lot of fun doing this, but we really learned a lot about not doing drugs and being respectful to everyone.”

Photos by Angelina Della Rocco/Plainsman
All fourth and fifth grade classes at the Washington 4-5 Center decorated their doors for Red Ribbon Week — some with a Halloween flair, but all show the importance of being respectful. Fifth grade student, Mackenzie Hershman, stands by her classroom’s anti-bullying week decorations.