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Smiley Elementary marks Red Ribbons Week
Drugfreewinners
Poster contest winners pictured (l-r): Amber Leon, kindergarten; Zachary Edwards, first grade; Kianna Cruz, second grade; and Cameryn Wingate, third grade. - photo by Photo provided.
Smiley Elementary School students recently celebrated being “drug free” by participating in Red Ribbon Week activities.
Students wore red to kick off the week’s activities, and the MACE taskforce of Hinesville gave a demonstration to students about the harmful effects of drugs.
A powerpoint presentation was shown to provide additional information about the taskforce. Students watched as the MACE drug dog alerted on a bag of drugs. The taskforce also had other drug paraphernalia for students to see. The highlight for students was a visit by McGruff, the crime dog. The conclusion activity for Red Ribbon week was Smiley Elementary’s Trunk or Treat.
Businesses and organizations came to show support for students to live a life without drugs. This year, there were more than 60 participants.
“This event is one that students look forward to from year to year. It is wonderful so many businesses took time out to show support for our students to live drug free,” Sandy Jones, Smiley Elementary principal, said.

Poster contest winners
The Ludowici Bank sponsored a “home-school, drug-free poster contest” for Smiley Elementary School students.
There were more than 400 entries. Families of Smiley Elementary worked together to make a poster that demonstrates life without drugs. The contest winners received a $50 savings bond from Ludowici Bank.
“We would like to thank parents and students for participating in the contest. We are all winners without drugs,” Gladwin Harper, assistant principal, said.
Grade-level winners are as follows: Kindergarten, Amber Leon; first grade, Zachary Edwards; second grade, Kianna Cruz; and third grade, Cameryn Wingate.
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