Challenger Elementary School

RED RIBBON WEEK CELEBRATION KICKOFF!!!


Challenger celebrates Red Ribbon kickoff in a big way!

Our Student Council members greeted all of our amazing guests and escorted them to the amphitheater for the start of our ceremony.

Opening the celebration was our amazing Challenger’s Color Guard, directed by Mr. Milner, who also is our master of ceremony!

First, taking the microphone was Ms. Valdez, our school’s principal. She welcomed all and gave a brief introduction for the purpose of our gathering, which was the “Red Ribbon Kickoff”. She then announced our weekly birthdays-overcoming our students and staff with excitement to be celebrated. Following that, Ms. Valdez invited down to the front of the amphitheater all of the Reading Superheroes for the week to be recognized for their reading merits! Our students were so proud of their accomplishments and wore the Superhero capes with Challenger P.R.I.D.E.! WAY TO GO, SUPERHEROES!🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♂️

Challenger was extremely honored to have had from the Nogales Police Department, Corporal Marina Duran. She gave an inspirational homage to DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, educating our students of the purpose behind the Red Ribbon celebration. She also introduced NPD's, Sergeant Batriz, and from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Lopez and Detective Rodriguez.

Detective Lopez showed our students many ways on how to “SAY NO TO DRUGS”. He then offered different scenarios and approaches for saying “NO”!

State Trooper, Jesus Gomez was also part of our Red Ribbon kickoff. He is the son of Mrs. Blanca Gomez, our school's secretary.

Also joining Challenger’s celebration was Ms. Mayleth Ortega and Ms. Jasmin Ayala from Circles of Peace, and staff from the Mariposa Community Health Center.

Our last invite ROARED the students with enthusiasm! Being none other than, DAREN the Lion!!! Our students were ecstatic when DAREN peeked his head from the corner of our library’s wall! He danced, gave high-fives , and took pictures with our kiddos-making this an unforgettable memory for everyone!

Thank you to the Challenger’s Student Council sponsors, Mrs. Rodriguez and Ms. Zamudio for organizing this wonderful event!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all within the community that volunteered to inform our students and for their part in keeping them safe and away from drugs!