Laconia middle schoolers have complted Red Ribbon Week

To the editor

The Student Council at Laconia Middle School recently completed a week of celebration and education for positive life choices. Red Ribbon Week was originally founded to honor the dedication of a Drug Enforcement Officer, Enrique “Kiki” Camerena, who was killed in 1985. His fellow officers and family wanted to ensure that his efforts were not lost with this tragedy. Positive promotion, education on empowerment, and the awareness of the effects of drugs on children and families continue to be the goal of this event which is recognized the last full week of October each year.

The promotion, in conjunction with the Laconia Police Department and N.H. State Trooper’s K-9 units, was a great success. Students wore bracelets co-sponsored by the Laconia Middle School PTO to show their commitment to positive life choices, food items were collected to support our local food pantry, prizes were awarded daily during the students lunch time, and all students attended a grade level assembly.

The 6th grade class participated in a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) revisit lead by Officer Michelle Cardinal and Officer Donald Kimtis of the Laconia Police Department. The 7th grade witnessed the expertise of our state’s K-9 team: Trooper George and his partner Niko, with support of Trooper Delucca and his partner Tyson, from Troop E, presented the roles, requirements and experience the K-9 Unit team offers the citizen’s of N.H. Our 8th grade classes were introduced to the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) program with the help of Officer Steve Orton and members of the SADD chapter at Laconia High School.

We would like to thank all members of the Laconia Middle School, LMS PTO, Laconia Police Department and N.H. State Troopers Association - Troop E for their continued support of Red Ribbon Week and meeting the needs of all of our students.

Rebecca Sims, Advisor

Laconia Middle School