Ardsley Schools Celebrate Red Ribbon Week with Laughter

Ardsley High School and Ardsley Middle School are joining thousands of schools in celebrating Red Ribbon Week, the nation's most important annual anti-drug and alcohol awareness event.  Together with the community organizations, the Ardsley School district is offering Ardsley students and families a good laugh and number of fun educational programs stressing the destructive nature of drugs and alcohol.

The Ardsley SAYF Coalition (Supporting Ardsley’s Youth and Families) has sponsored presentations by Dr. Matt Bellace, who will present to the Ardsley middle and high school students on Oct. 24th. Bellace has been a youth motivational speaker and stand-up comedian since 1995. He has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is the author of the book, "A Better High.” His "How to Get High Naturally" program encourages over a hundred thousand students a year to pursue natural highs and make healthy choices.   Ardsley parents are also given the opportunity to attend a special evening session with Bellace on October 24 at 7:30pm at Ardsley High School.

Red Ribbon week has been held annually from Oct. 21st-Oct.25th ever since the Drug Enforcement Administration undercover agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was killed by drug traffickers in Mexico. Angered by his death and the damaging effects of drugs on our culture, the people of Camarena's hometown of Calexico, Calif., began wearing red ribbons in his honor.  The trend spread across the country, and in 1988 Congress proclaimed the last full week in October as National Red Ribbon Week.