The way they altered their dressing habits by wearing unique apparel to their classrooms all week long expressed their lighthearted side.

But, the lessons imparted on students at Slatington Elementary School on how to live a drug-free lifestyle was anything but monkey business.

The school’s student council, headed by Amy Zeiser, sponsored and organized a Red Ribbon Spirit Week to highlight drug abuse awareness through a series of fun-themed days.

School Principal Scott Pyne explained that Red Ribbon Week mixed the element of enjoyment with that of real-life lessons the students will take with them.

“While embedded in a little fun, the focused week fostered increased awareness and attention on the impact of drug abuse on communities and individuals,” Pyne said.

Sixth-grader Gage Tessitore, a member of the school’s student council, gave examples of lessons students learned to that effect.

“Some days of the year, we would wear a hat,” Gage said. “So when it comes to drugs and alcohol, putting a cap on it would be like putting a lid on whatever you are drinking.

Gage also alluded to the sunglasses the students wore to shade themselves from the sun would be akin to keeping drugs or alcohol away from others.

Fellow sixth-grader and student council member Krista Lynch took it a step further.

“We’re trying to keep kids away from drugs so that they don’t get influenced by it,” Krista said. “We also tell kids and their parents not to do drugs.”

Krista said her favorite theme was Pajama Day, “Because I got to wear my pajamas to school.”

She added that Friday was Jersey Day, and that by wearing their jerseys to school, the students were sending the message on how to “team up against drugs.”

The week kicked off with the call to wear red on Monday, and followed with Crazy Sock Day, Pajama Day, Sunglass Day and Jersey Day.