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Hands Off Drugs Celebrates 25 Years at SCSD#2
New handprints and signatures graced the walls at Sheridan Junior High School on Wednesday, December 17. This is the 25th year of the Hands-Off Drugs program at SJHS.
Every year, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders take a pledge to remain alcohol and drug free until they are at least 21 years of age. Once they take the pledge, they have their hands painted with blue or yellow paint, and their hand is pressed on the wall, to create a colorful print. Then it is dated and signed by the student, to prove they have taken the pledge.
Raili Emery, school guidance counselor, explained about the Hands-Off Drugs program in Sheridan Junior High School.
“Why do we do this?” Emery asked, when talking to the students about the program. She said that one of the reasons is that research has shown that the older one is before using alcohol or chemical substances the better off for the developing brain.
Juliet Caudell and Camila Ramirez at SJHS.
One third of your brain is developing now, Emery told them, and chemical substances interferes with that development. If you don’t start using it now, the better. Also, the more frequently and the more publicly one make a declaration such as the pledge, the more likely they are to keep it.
She said that the youngsters have to think about the pledge, to make sure they are serious about it before they sign. She added about how many students decided to either renew or take the pledge this year.
Emery then read the pledge, and the students repeated it after her.
She added that although they don’t have a follow up on the youngsters after they leave the Junior High, she said some of the students come back even after they are in high school and even college to continue signing the handprints to renew their pledge.
Madison Lieuallen, 7th grade, signs her handprint from last year.
There were several people who helped with the event, including the Sheridan Police Department, First Responders, Sheridan Fire Department and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s office personnel.
Keaton Phillips, 6th grade, shows off his blue hand.
One student, who invited his parents and grandparents to come to the event, said it had to be important because the police were here.
Seventh Graders Delaney and Doug Dewald took the pledge
Sheridan County Sheridan Levi Dominguez was one of those who was helping out with the event, and he had this to say,
SCSD#2 Superintendent Scott Stults attended as well and had this comment.
Hands Off Drugs at Sheridan Junior High is one way that SCSD#2 is working to do the best for their students, not just during the school year, but as a way to create a solid future for them.
Feature Image – Keaton Phillips, 6th grade, gets his hand painted by Sheriff Dominguez.
