Oct. 27, 2026

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’slargest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign. Across the country, schools are diving into dress-up days, hearing special presentations, enjoying special lunchtime or assembly activities and, most importantly, hearing the message that drug-free is the way to be in a fun and engaging way.

Across town, each Hughson Unified School District site is taking its own spin on this year’s theme: Make a difference. Be a hero. Stay drug-free.

With a professional development day on Monday, Red Ribbon Week ran one day shorter than in years past, but students and staff still made the most of it with annual Red Ribbon Week and Halloween week traditions.

At each school, parent-teacher clubs, staff and leadership groups help make Red Ribbon Week happen by brainstorming ideas, decorating the campus and facilitating events. At Fox Road Elementary School, the student representatives start each morning with a positive Red Ribbon Week message during announcements. Hughson High School Life of a Husky will give Red Ribbon Week Drug Free Healthy Choices presentations at the elementary school campuses. Lunchtime activities elaborate on the daily themes.

At Hughson Elementary School, on Tuesday, students celebrated Superhero Day by wearing their favorite superhero shirt, “Be a hero, stay away from drugs.” Wednesday will be Sports Day. Students can wear their favorite jersey or team T-shirt and “Team up against drugs.” On Thursday, it’s Western Day, and Hughson Elementary School Students can “give drugs the boot” with western attire. On Friday, they’ll “Say 'BOO!' to drugs” with their Halloween costume or Husky gear.

At Fox Road Elementary School, on Tuesday, students are invited to dress as a superhero, an everyday hero, or their favorite heroic character and “Be a Hero!” Wednesday, they will “Team Up Against Drugs!” with a sports jersey, team shirt, or team colors to show their team spirit. On Thursday, “School Heroes Stand Together!” by wearing red, the redder, the better. District representatives will visit the campuses to judge Fox Road’s decorated doors and award prizes to the top two rooms. And on Friday, Fox Road Elementary will join Hughson Elementary School students in saying “Boo to Drugs!” with their Halloween costume and annual Halloween parade that afternoon.

The parade begins for Fox Road Elementary School at Samaritan Village at 1:30 p.m. Hughson Elementary School will walk down Whitmore Avenue to Charles Street and Hughson Avenue in a parade that begins at 2:15 p.m.

Students at Ross Middle School begin the week wearing red, followed by pajamas on Wednesday, neon on Thursday, and Husky spirit wear or their Halloween costumes on Friday. There will be face painting and Red Ribbon Week tattoos on Tuesday, carnival games with themed prizes on Thursday, and a drug-free photo booth on Friday during lunch.

At Hughson High School, students are “Teaming Up Against Drugs” on Tuesday with sports jerseys, team shirts or school club gear. On Wednesday, they will “Shade Out Drugs” by wearing bright colors or sunglasses. Thursday is Hero Day or Community Helper Day, encouraging students to dress as their personal heroes, historical figures, everyday leaders or community helpers. And Friday is the schoolwide black-and-gold spirit day, getting students all ready for the big game that night against Ripon Christian.

For the last seven years, Hughson High School has won the county-wide red ribbon contest, but this year, after ten years, Stanislaus County Office of Education has discontinued the contest. “It has been a great opportunity for our school to rally around the message that drugs are bad and we need to take care of our bodies,” Principal Loren Lighthall said.