Showing off some alternatives

Students pumped their fists into the air and screamed at the top of their lungs as they sat cross-legged on the asphalt, bouncing around with excitement, as five guys flipped, spun and caught some serious air.

Students at Agnes L. Smith Elementary School kicked off the first day of Red Ribbon Week on Monday with a special assembly by Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports and Air Show and learned what they could accomplish if they followed their dreams and stayed off drugs.

“It was good. I like when they did flips,” kindergartner Henry Eddy, 6, said. “I learned about making my dreams come true.”

The assembly was meant to show kids something they can do instead of drugs, Principal Mike Andrzejewski said.

The athletes on roller skates, a skateboard, a scooter and a bike did tricks on a quarter pipe to show the students what is possible if they stay off drugs.

“Find the things you love to do and do them the best you can,” said Gale Webb. “You don’t have to be perfect.”

The performers showed their stuff as the kids’ yells became a deafening scream.

Students threw out the “rock on” sign, arm in the air with pointer and pinky finger out, as the performers dropped off the ramps.

One of the performers, Michael Castillo, said he would do a special trick for the school: jumping over three people with his bike.

The students booed as he ditched his bike at the last second and leaped over the volunteers.

He did the same trick again, toying with the crowd, before the principal joined the volunteers laying on the ground for the third and final try.

The crowd of students leaned forward with excitement as Castillo flew over the volunteers and Andrzejewski on his bike. As the principal stood up unscathed, the kids screamed.

Watching Castillo jump over the principal was one of the highlights of the assembly for 9-year-old Nevada Forline

“He’s our principal,” Nevada said. “It’s kind of weird to see people jumping over him.”

The assembly was just the start of Red Ribbon Week.

The students were given red “say no to drugs” bracelets and asked to wear the color all week.

They are also going to sign a pledge against drugs and talk about the issue in their classes.

In Christy Larsen’s class, the first-graders talk about making their own decisions.

“I think the earlier you get into the concept that you have a choice, the better,” Larsen said.

The message hit home for 10-year-old Dominic Coffey. Dominic said he has an aunt who died from smoking and he won’t do drugs, but the assembly did give him someone to look up to.

“When you don’t do drugs, you get to be those guys,” Dominic said.