MORAN — Marmaton Valley High School Kansas Association of Youth (KAY) Club students promoted Red Ribbon Week, which ended Friday.
Each day started off with the Morning of Champions, which included the Cheer/Dance team, volleyball team, cross country team, and KAY Club members, greeting the elementary students as they arrived at school.
The elementary students signed posters each day sharing about what brings them joy, their heroes, their favorite parts of school, and what they want to be after they’re grown up.
On Friday, the pupils pledged to stay drug-free by hanging a pledge card to sign.
Meanwhile, the high school and junior high students had a daily trivia question pertaining to drug and alcohol statistics. The daily winner earned a coupon for a snack from the kitchen.
Assisting KAY members was the Allen County Multi-Agency Team (ACMAT), which provided stickers, pencils, pencil sharpeners, pop sockets, and color-changing cups to hand out to students.
“The KAY club members, KAY Club officers, and athletes had a fun time interacting with the younger students,” club sponsor Kelci Botts said. “This is a great opportunity for our older students to be reminded that they are an example for our younger youth. It is also fun for the younger students to get to interact with high school students.”
KAY CLUB members also held their fourth annual “Trick or Treat So They Can Eat” event in Moran Oct. 17.
The community donated non-perishable items in the COVID-safe Drive Through Drop Off Event.
Club members and officers were in the school parking lot that morning to accept donations from the community.
Members collected over 200 items which they contributed to Hope Unlimited in Iola.
“I am super proud of the kids and of our community for being so willing to help others,” Botts said. “That’s what living in a small community is all about — doing for others. This is a fun way to provide for others. We have a saying in KAY ‘work made fun gets done’ and that’s just what these students did. They overcame COVID obstacles and still were able to provide for others in need.”
