EL MONTE – Thousands of students across El Monte City School District sported vibrant red outfits, rushed to greet visiting police officers and cheered as they pledged to live drug-, alcohol- and tobacco-free lives during Red Ribbon Week.

El Monte City School District students celebrated the week by participating in dress-up days, such as wearing boots to “give drugs the boot,” styling their hair in outlandish ways to show they’re “drug-free from head to toe” and donning their favorite team jerseys to “team up against drugs.”

Students were also treated to visits from El Monte police officers, who handed out red lanyards and water bottles, as they gave tours of their cruisers, SWAT vehicles and horse companions.

Shirpser kindergartener Lilian Rios said her favorite Red Ribbon Week activities were wearing her Pink Unicorns soccer jersey to show her drug-free pride and meeting with El Monte police officers.

“We all know that drugs mess up your system, and we as adults have to be a guiding light for students to show them that it’s not necessary to do that stuff to have a good life,” El Monte Police Officer Ruben Quintana said. “I’m all for Red Ribbon Week.”

The police officers also reminded students to stay safe on Halloween, telling them to use flashlights and always look both ways when crossing the street while trick-or-treating.

“Red Ribbon Week is an important reminder to our students to make smart and safe decisions in their lives,” Superintendent Dr. Maribel Garcia said. “Having our local police officers visit and providing them with so many fun activities really brings home the message that drugs aren’t needed to have fun or be successful.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

EMCSD_REDRIBBON1: El Monte City Police Officer Ruben Quintana meets with a group of Shirpser School kindergarteners to talk about the importance of being drug-, alcohol- and tobacco-free during Red Ribbon Week.