Nassau students take a stand against drugs, alcohol during Red Ribbon Week

Tens of thousands of Long Island students agreed to steer clear of drugs and alcohol during celebrations of Red Ribbon Week.

The campaign, sponsored by the nonprofit National Family Partnership, invited schools nationwide to host activities during a week in late October that encourage youngsters to lead healthy lifestyles and pledge to remain drug-free. It is considered the largest and oldest drug-awareness program in the United States.

In Glen Cove, two officers from the Glen Cove Police Department visited Gribbin Elementary School, speaking to students about the importance of making smart decisions. Other activities included inviting kids to wear pajamas to school to show their promise to "help future dreams come true" and wearing tie-dye T-shirts and peace signs to help say "peace out to unhealthy choices," school officials said.

"Meeting with the students while they are at such a young age is extremely important, because we can maybe prevent them from developing unhealthy behaviors and habits," said Glen Cove High School senior Caitlin Brown, a member of the school's Student Athlete Leadership Team (S.A.L.T.).

In Seaford, middle school students learned about the power of perseverance during a visit from Rohan Murphy, an East Islip native who underwent a double leg amputation at the age of 4 because of a congenital deformity and went on to compete in wrestling and powerlifting competitions. In addition, teachers at the district's Manor Elementary School performed a puppet show to illustrate the dangers of cigarettes and alcohol.

H.B. Thompson Middle School in Syosset hosted five different theme days, including a "We Mustache You to Stay Drug-Free" day in which kids wore creative mustaches, and a "We're Too Smart for Drugs" day in which students and staff donned college sports attire.

Students and staff at Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Meadow wore red as a show of solidarity and gathered in the shape of a big ribbon outside the school.

BELLMORE

'Purple People Eater'

Students at Winthrop Avenue Elementary School were treated to a special music performance by Principal Sally Curto as a reward for third- and fourth-graders who read a total of 73,982 minutes over several weeks.

The effort was part of the school's participation in Parents as Reading Partners, a New York State PTA program that asks parents to read with children for 15 minutes a day.

Curto played two songs on the recorder, including Sheb Wooley's 1958 novelty tune "The Purple People Eater," during a schoolwide assembly.

SYOSSET

Ralph Macchio visit

Twenty-five film and theater students at Nassau BOCES' Long Island High School for the Arts recently received an insider's perspective on the industry from Huntington native Ralph Macchio, who is best-known for his role in the "The Karate Kid" movie franchise.

During the visit, Principal AJ Hepworth interviewed Macchio in the style of Bravo's "Inside the Actor's Studio," and students were treated to a screening of Macchio's 2013 film "Across Grace Alley."

"Learn as much as you can," Macchio told students. "When I was a kid, I didn't have the opportunity to take my creative talent to a place like this for it to be nurtured and blossom."

VALLEY STREAMChoir performance

The children's choir at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School was one of only three choirs statewide selected to perform at the New York State School Boards Association's annual conference in Manhattan.

The choir was chosen from 27 student ensembles that submitted audition recordings. The group performed for about 800 people at last month's conference, held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.

The choir's set included Jim Papoulis' "If You Could Ever Hear My Voice" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "September."

ISLANDWIDEJFK essay contest

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is accepting submissions for its 2015 Profile in Courage Essay Contest, which challenges students to describe an act of political courage by an elected official in the United States who served during or after 1956.

The contest, supported by John Hancock Financial, is open to all high school students.

The first-place winner will get a $5,000 cash award and another $5,000 for a college savings plan. The teacher who nominated the student will get a $500 grant for projects involving student leadership and civic engagement. Both will receive a trip to Boston to attend an awards ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. The second-place winner will receive $1,000. Five finalists each will receive $500.

For more information, visit jfklibrary.org. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 5.