TCOE’s CHOICES Prevention Program is traveling across Tulare County this week in participation of National Red Ribbon Week.

During their presentation at Golden Valley Elementary School (Orosi) on Tuesday, CHOICES specialists talked to students about the history of Red Ribbon Week, the dangers of drugs, and the importance of making good choices. They also showed students the difference between a healthy lung and a smoker’s lung. This display allowed students to understand how difficult it is to breathe with lungs impacted by smoking.

Students also played two games – Simon Says and a Drug Free Relay. These games taught the students about the benefits of a healthy body and working together, and the consequences of bad influences.

Across the county, over 100,000 students are participating in Red Ribbon Week activities, including campus pledges, art contests, dress up days, and more. CHOICES will host presentations and booths at 10 schools after kicking off Red Ribbon Week this past Saturday with their annual Red Ribbon Week Celebration at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia.

TCOE’s CHOICES Programs provide prevention education throughout Tulare County. For more resources or information about bringing CHOICES to your school, visit https://tcoe.org/choices.

This year's CHARACTER COUNTS! Week, which ran October 18-25, highlighted over 4,400 Kids of Character from 162 Tulare County schools. From the nominations, the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program selected one student from each of the schools represented and created a four-page ad, which ran today in the Visalia Times-Delta.

To see a copy of the ad and descriptions of the 162 students selected, visit https://tcoe.org/kidsofcharacter. The four-page ad is available through the "weekend insert" link; a statement about the honorees is available through the "descriptions" link.

On Tuesday evening of next week, CHARACTER COUNTS! Program will hold its annual Kids of Character Provident/Salierno Family Foundation Awards. The event will honor the 42 top students listed below with a scholarship provided by the Provident/Salierno Family Foundation. The first Provident/Salierno Family Foundation Awards was held in 2012. 

PROVIDENT-SALIERNO FAMILY FOUNDATION AWARD RECIPIENTS

TRUSTWORTHINESS
Top Honoree
Jonathan Eversull, Frank Kohn Elementary School (Tulare)

Finalists
Ivan Alcaraz, Burton Elementary School (Porterville)
Isaiah Lupercio, Shannon Ranch Elementary School (Visalia)
Ben Romans, Mission Oak High School (Tulare)
Isabel Sanchez, Tipton School
Aaron Shelton, Sundale Union School (Tulare)
Lithzy Tapia, Exeter Union High School

RESPECT
Top Honoree
Joseph Guerra, Jefferson Elementary School (Dinuba)

Finalists
Aniyah Chaves, Tulare Union High School
Brooklyn Huckleberry, Grace Christian School (Visalia)
Andrew Leon, Butterfield Charter School (Porterville)
Elijah Meraz, Cutler Elementary School
Bryan Salas Delgado, Earlimart Middle School
Emily Ugalde Pina, Royal Oaks Elementary School (Visalia)

RESPONSIBILITY
Top Honoree
Zhaddai Perez, Farmersville Junior High School

Finalists
Ava Esmundo, Jim Maples Academy (Porterville)
Zadrina Lopez, Highland Elementary School (Visalia)
Melany Ramos, Palo Verde Union School (Tulare)
Kaleb Rossiter, Pixley Elementary School
Jayden Wong, El Diamante High School (Visalia)
Stella Zavala, Strathmore Elementary School

FAIRNESS
Top Honoree
Alexa Villalobos, Wilson Elementary School (Tulare)

Finalists
Israel Cervantes, Garden Elementary School (Tulare)
Lance Garcia, Palm Elementary School (Orosi)
William Hernandez, Roosevelt Elementary School (Tulare)
Miguel Reyes, Orosi High School
Zeke Romero, Summit Charter Academy Mathew Campus (Porterville)
Zaylen Sosa, George L. Snowden Elementary School (Farmersville)

CARING
Top Honoree
Saira MacDonald, Butterfield Charter High School (Porterville)

Finalists
Armani Calleja Valencia, Woodville Union School
Emiliano Gonzalez, Crowley Elementary School (Visalia)
Evelyn Hernandez, Crestwood Elementary School (Visalia)
Ian Pena, Palo Verde Union School (Tulare)
Amayah Ramirez, Lincoln Elementary School (Tulare)
Carson Zachary, Redwood High School (Visalia)

CITIZENSHIP
Top Honoree
Adrian Mota, University Preparatory High School (Visalia)

Finalists
Jasper Delgado, Kaweah Continuation High School (Exeter)
Jordan Holt, Granite Hills High School (Porterville)
Dakota O'Bryan, Sierra Vista High School (Dinuba)
Bellarie Oliva, La Sierra Military Academy (Visalia)
Emmett Sozihno, St. Aloysius School (Tulare)
Cristo Vazquez, Waukena Joint Union School (Tulare)

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, Ryan Ginsberg, Katelyn Hughes, Jeff Lynch, Zoty Briceño, Kathleen Green-Martins