Drug free promises bloom at Rector school

Theresa Gatewood and her students take time to enjoy the lovely tulips they planted as part of their pledge to enjoy drug free lives. Pictured are, from left: Front--Theresa Gatewood, Ashley Akin and Triston Lamar. Middle--Chance Scott, Shandan York and Tommy Stokes. Back--Lonnie Yancey, Jagger Young, Erika Howe, Nicole Stokes, Alex Lamar and Kody Beaver.
(Democrat photo/Ryan Rogers)

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Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students in Theresa Gatewood's resource classes planted 100 tulip bulbs during Red Ribbon Week in October as a way to show their commitment to lives free of illegal drugs and their influences. The students went to work, planting the bulbs in the planter in front of the elementary building.

The project not only reinforced the goal of Red Ribbon Week, but also offered hands-on opportunities for the students to incorporate science and mathematic skills.

"We talked about the life cycle for flowers and plants," Gatewood said. "We went over the various stages plants and flowers go through.

"When I took them out there, most of them weren't real sure what tulips looked like. They had probably seen them before, but most had never planted flowers before."

Once the flowers developed, the students used math to determine what percentage of the tulips grew.

"We planted 100," Gatewood said. "They were able to determine that 89 bloomed out of 100, and that 89 percent of what we planted had bloomed."

The tulips turned into more than just a project, however. Once the flowers came up, the students felt a connection to the radiant reminders.

"They were so excited," Gatewood said. "The students remembered which ones they planted and looked to see if their tulips had come up. It's really personal to them."

"Just about all the ones I planted are good," student Triston Lamar said. "I think all the flowers we planted are going to be okay."

The project has to be considered a success if it keeps the young students mindful of their pledges to avoid the pitfalls associated with drug abuse.

"I'm never going to take drugs unless a doctor gives them to me," said fourth grader Jagger Young.

The tulips are part of an ongoing commitment. The flowers will come back each year as a reminder to not only the students who planted them, but to all those who see them, as a symbol of hope. It's no coincidence April, the month they've bloomed, is National Alcohol Awareness Month.

Students who took part in the project included Lonnie Yancey, Ashley Akin, Shandan York, Kody Beaver, Tommy Stokes, Chance Scott, Nicole Stokes, Erika Howe, Jagger Young and Alex Lamar. All the students said they enjoyed the project and are committed to following the ideals behind the Red Ribbon program.