2011 Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest Underway

Now in its 26th year, Red Ribbon Week is the largest and longest-running drug prevention campaign in the U.S., reaching 80 million people nationwide.

The Belmont Police Department is inviting kindergarten through 8th Grade students, enrolled in any public or private school in Belmont or the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, to participate in the 2011 Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest.

This year’s theme is “It’s up to me to be drug free.”

Posters can be a drawing, painting, poem, or collage.  Posters will be judged on art work reflecting the theme, creativity, effort, and grammar. 

Entries must be delivered to the front office of the student’s school or to the Belmont Police Department, 1 Twin Pines Lane by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Entries will be divided into separate groups based on grade level and there will be one winner from each group.

Student winners will be honored at the City of Belmont council meeting on Oct. 25. Winners will be invited to a pizza party following the ceremony. Winning art work will be displayed inside Belmont City Hall along with a Red Ribbon Week recognition plaque.

“We want to encourage our youth to adopt health life styles and this includes avoiding becoming involved with drug and violence,” said Belmont Police Chief Don Mattei. 

“I invite every K-8 student to participate in this event. Show how you are making the right choice to be drug free,” Mattei added.

Contest rules and a poster forms are available in school offices, or on the police department website, www.belmont.gov.