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Students from Pine Level Elementary paraded the town’s streets pledging to be drug free for the school’s Red Ribbon Week Parade.
Pine Level Elementary students participated in the parade last Friday to mark the end of Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign that focused on spreading drug awareness.
Each classroom participated in the parade by creating banners and signs for Red Ribbon Week with a “Say No to Drugs” theme. Students were also given an opportunity to make a shoebox float for the parade that they could pull.
Members of the North Johnston High band led the parade along with Pine Level Town Commissioner Karen Anderson.
“Pine Level Elementary enjoys showcasing students’ hard work and thus came the idea for the new addition of shoe box floats,” said Abby Stephenson, school counselor and event organizer. “I am so pleased with the effort given by students and staff to make the parade not just a success, but memorable for the Pine Level community.”
The theme for Tina Grimes’ first grade class was taken from the Dr. Seuss book, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” They added the saying, “because to drugs we say no” to the title, and the students wore hot air balloon hats on their heads.
“My favorite part was wearing the hot air balloon hats in the parade,” said first grade student Ashten Astoske.
Friday’s parade marks the fifth annual parade that the school has organized for Red Ribbon Week. Parents and community members lined the streets around the school to see the students participate in the parade.