Red Ribbon Week parade held at Pine Level Elementary

Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PINE LEVEL — Students, staff, and families of Pine Level Elementary School came out in a show of force for the school’s eighth annual Red Ribbon Week Parade Friday, Oct. 29.

Members of the school were joined by community members, local officials, members of the Johnston County Sheriff’s Department and Pine Level Police and Fire departments for the parade.

Red Ribbon Week is the largest and longest-running drug prevention campaign in the United States. The first national Red Ribbon celebration was launched in 1988 and continues to serve as a motivation to mobilize communities to educate youth about drugs and encourage participation in drug-free activities.

The Red Ribbon Week Parade was the brainchild of school counselor Abigail Stephenson, who debuted the school’s first parade in 2013. “I wanted it to be meaningful and memorable,” she said. “It’s a huge decision to live your life drug-free.”

The parade is the grand finale of Pine Level Elementary’s Spirit Week. Each day consisted of a different theme leading up to the parade. Monday’s theme was “Say BOO to Drugs” where students and staff wore Halloween getups. Wednesday was “Drugs Can’t Find Me” and everyone was encouraged to wear camouflage. Friday’s “Rally in Red” theme created a sea of red all over the school and around the community.

“The children need something like this to be excited about,” said Deborah Baker, who has served Pine Level Elementary for the last 18 years.

The excitement was palpable as students made their way from the gymnasium to outside for their march around the school. The students made posters and small floats to display as they paraded through town. Some students and staff also donned ties to show support for their beloved principal, Allen Sasser. October is also National Principals’ Month and Sasser loves to wear fun ties.

For Sasser, his favorite thing about Red Ribbon Week is the annual parade. “I enjoy seeing the students and community rallying together to show our students that they have support to stay drugfree,” he said.

With the help of Pine Level students, their families, staff and PTA members, the parade is truly a community effort. This year’s grand marshal, Mayor Jeff Holt, mandated the parade to be an annual event.

Pine Level is clearly a community dedicated to teaching its young students how to live a drug-free existence.

Pine Level Elementary held the school’s annual Red Ribbon Week parade Oct. 29. Leading the parade, from left, are Pine Level Mayor Jeff Holt, Pine Level Elementary School counselor Abigail Stephenson, and Pine Level town commissioner Phil Pittman. Pine Level Elementary first grade student Leighton Hickey, far left, joyfully shakes a noisemaker during the school’s Red Ribbon Week Parade.