CARLSBAD UNIFIED CONNECTIONS
October 27, 2026
On October 20th, CUSD students stood before the Carlsbad City Council to receive a proclamation on behalf of their schools in support of Red Ribbon Week 2026. Alongside our students, Superintendent Dr. Andrea Norman spoke briefly, capturing what Red Ribbon Week means to our district and how collaboration with city officials benefits all Carlsbad students:
“Working together, we create a safe, supportive environment where our students can thrive both inside and outside the classroom. As we observe Red Ribbon Week, we are reminded of how crucial it is to guide our youth toward healthy, positive choices. Living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle gives our students the foundation they need to reach their full potential.”
Since 1988, the last week of October has been recognized as Red Ribbon Week across the country. Each year, the celebration of Red Ribbon Week brings families, schools, and communities together to learn about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as the power of making safe, healthy choices.
Within these goals, Red Ribbon Week is also an opportunity for creativity in CUSD. All 16 schools participate in Red Ribbon Week, but the details of each celebration are diverse, representing part of what makes each school community within Carlsbad Unified unique.
One thing present across the board is a wealth of decorations. Throughout Carlsbad Unified, Elementary PTAs help build an atmosphere for the week that’s warm, welcoming, and very, very red. At some schools, like Kelly Elementary and Magnolia Elementary, that means staff and parent volunteers tying ribbons along fences and walkways and filling the sidewalks with colorful chalk messages of encouragement, so students are greeted with a sense of excitement the moment they arrive on campus.
Spirit days are organized in collaboration between school staff and, at the second level, student leadership. Each school sets a schedule Monday through Friday of what apparel students might wear to express their pride in living a drug-free life. Spirit days aren’t standardized, and each school shows its pride differently, but the message remains clear across Carlsbad Unified.
As a sampling of spirit days being held this year:
Pajama Day - “Dream big. Live healthy.”
Jersey Day - “Team up against drugs!”
Wear Red Day - “Be red-dy to make healthy choices!”
Superhero Day - Representing Red Ribbon Week’s 2026 theme of “Make a difference. Be a hero. Stay drug-free”
Of course, Red Ribbon Week extends beyond spirit days. Teachers and staff organize lunchtime activities at each site to promote a healthy lifestyle by getting students up and moving or by building community. These include things like bracelet-making stations or lessons led by guests from the YMCA. Carlsbad High School incorporates Red Ribbon Week PSAs into their daily CHSTV broadcast, and Sage Creek is holding a student volleyball tournament during lunch all week long.
The ASB students at Calavera Hills Middle School put together a contest for their peers, distributing bracelets etched with affirmations of the effort they’re exerting towards building a bright, healthy future. At the end of the week, students still wearing their bracelets receive a reward of candy for continuing to show pride in the spirit of Red Ribbon Week
And at Carlsbad Village Academy, students spent the past week decorating doors with a Halloween theme and messages about making positive choices. After that time spent working, strengthening their community, and discussing how to get help when needed, students will walk in each day this week to a supportive message from their peers.
From CVA principal Jorge Espinoza, “Red Ribbon Week gives us another opportunity to remind students that they matter and that they have people here who care about them. We want them to feel comfortable asking for help and knowing that each day is a chance to make a better choice.”
Red Ribbon Week is a time to empower students to make healthy choices and create a school community where every student feels supported in making positive decisions. Keep in mind this opportunity to discuss with your student positive ways to manage life’s stress and challenges, and the importance of making choices towards a bright, positive future.
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Carlsbad Unified School District
Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.net
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000