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Flat Rock, Sandy Creek students teach Burch kids to ‘Just Say No’

How do you kick off “Red Ribbon Week” in a way that elementary school students will long remember to “Say No to Drugs?”

You bring in singers, actors, steppers, speakers, cheerleaders, athletes, teachers, counselors and coaches and practice saying “NO” to drugs together.

The gathering is especially effective when the participants are all from your school community.

That’s exactly what happened at a Robert J. Burch Elementary School assembly on Oct. 23, when students from Flat Rock Middle and Sandy Creek High schools visited their elementary school neighbor and encouraged them to wear red and remember to say “no” to drugs.

Together, students from kindergarten through high school participated in the kickoff event for Red Ribbon Week, which was held Oct. 25-29. Burch P.E. teachers JoDee Hubbert and Lee Hannah, counselor Jackie Uttley, and Flat Rock counselors Pat Sheffield, Tama Trammell and Sue McEwan organized the assembly to educate and motivate the Burch Bears.

“The purpose of the assembly was to introduce the idea to Burch’s elementary students that a drug-free body is a happy, healthy body,” said Uttley. “Hearing that message from older boys and girls rather than just teachers and parents is very important.”

Groups of students from each school had performing roles in the assembly.

Kindergarten students sang for the audience. Eighth grade honor students spoke to the young bears about staying drug free. Puppeteers Offering Kindness Education (POKE), a performing group of Flat Rock actors, singers, and puppeteers, offered skits dealing with making good decisions and peer pressure. The Flat Rock Step Team performed lively routines that rocked the house.

Burch students who cheer for different youth football teams in Fayette County led the audience in cheers that encouraged all to say “No” to drugs.

Sandy Creek seniors Josh Haney, Aaron Caruthers, and William Belton spoke to the audience about the importance of staying drug free for a bright future and a strong, healthy body. Haney, who is the starting quarterback for the undefeated Sandy Creek Patriots, shared with the crowd that sports were his “anti-drug,” and he encouraged the young Burch Bears to find their own “anti-drug.”

Burch P.E. teacher Lee Hannah, who also coaches football and basketball at Sandy Creek, challenged Aaron Caruthers, a former Burch Bear, and William Belton to a “slam/dunk” contest.

“The three jumped, slammed, dunked and totally delighted the young Burch Bears who squealed and clapped for all three, but especially for their very own Coach Hannah,” says Uttley.

In addition to the slam/dunk contest, Hannah and Burch students Dejavius Sheets and Joe Walker thrilled the audience and ended the assembly with an outstanding tumbling exhibition that featured back flips.

“The amazing thing about this assembly was that it brought together so much talent from the schools of the north complex, talent that will long serve as role models for Burch Bears to just say “no,” said Uttley.