Get Out the Sharpies--It's Red Ribbon Week Poster Time

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 2013 Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest. 

This year's theme: “A Healthy Me Is Drug Free!”

Red Ribbon week is October 23-31. During that week Belmont police officers will be conducting drug and violence prevention activities at the schools.

The goal of the contest is to symbolize the importance of living an alcohol, drug and violence free healthy lifestyle. Entries will be divided into separate groups based on grade level and there will be one winner from each group. 

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

Entries must be delivered to the front office of the student’s school or at the Belmont Police Department, 1 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, by 4 pm on Thursday, October 17, 2013.

Student winners will be honored at the City of Belmont council meeting on October 22, 2013 at 7:30PM. 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 healthy lifestyles and this includes avoiding becoming involved with drugs and violence,” said Belmont Police Chief Dan DeSmidt. 

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

Now in its 27th year, Red Ribbon Week is the largest and oldest drug prevention campaign in the United States, reaching 80 million people nationwide. The National Family Partnership (NFP) created the campaign in response to the 1985 death of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who was abducted and murdered by drug traffickers in Mexico (http://redribbon.org/).

Students can get a copy of the contest rules and a poster form, at their school office or by going to the Police Department homepage on City of Belmont website at www.belmont.gov.