COVID-19 may have stopped Monroe-Woodbury from doing many activities, but Red Ribbon Week will still be observed by the district.

This year’s Red Ribbon Week is celebrated with several contests. As the host district for this year, MW is working with a team of professionals in Orange County to coordinate activities with other schools across the county.

Students had until October 15 to submit a photo of their home, front door, fence or mailbox decorated with a double-looped Red Ribbon with the #orangegoesred2020. This year’s theme was Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free. The prizes for this contest is an iPad for you and $1,000 for a K-12 school of your choice. Voting times are November 6 until November 16. Winners will be announced on December 2, 2020. 

The high school is also having a spoken word contest. Share your best spoken word performance that incorporates use of the 2020 theme – Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free™ . Share the video on Social Media using the hashtag #RedRibbonWeekSpokenWord for a chance to win $25 gift card from Amazon. See Mrs. Martucci in 221 or email [email protected] for more information.

Senior Miriam Oke, a member of the Red Ribbon Week committee, said “I feel as if Red Ribbon week is an essential topic that needs to be discussed in school due to the fact that it brings awareness to topics against drug usage.”

“Red Ribbon Week started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who in 1985 was brutally murdered by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. After his death, people wanted to honor his sacrifice,” according to the Red Ribbon Week website. Red Ribbon week was created to honor Enrique. 

Red Ribbon week officially started on October 23 and goes until the 31st.