October is Red Ribbon Month during which our school will be promoting drug awareness and prevention with our students. The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week®, October 23rd – October 31st each year. It is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Please take this opportunity to open or continue the dialogue with your children around drugs. Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) reports: There is an urgent need to identify children and adolescents who have or are at risk for mental disorders, including Substance Use Disorders, and connect these children and adolescents with other services they need. Schools can fill a critical role in both identifying such children and adolescents and connecting them with treatment and other services they need. Fulton County Schools is committed to providing safe and secure learning environments for our students. Our Board of Education makes annual, ongoing investments that provide safety and security to our physical buildings as well as programs that focus on the social and emotional well-being of our students and staff. Monday, 10/27, during lunches, students will have the opportunity to complete a puzzle piece explaining activities that they can do besides drugs and then they will have a chance to spin a wheel for prizes.