BOX ELDER - The Francis Case Elementary School music teacher likes to call it a moving rainbow.

More than 400 elementary students sang, saluted and be-bopped their way through the school's annual Spirit Day last Friday in an array of brightly colored tie-dyed shirts.

"It's my favorite day of the year," said music teacher Marie Kennedy.

Unity Day, celebrated the Friday before Halloween, starts several weeks before, when students and staff tie-dye their own shirts. Each class wears a specific color.

Unity Day this year was the final activity for "Drug Free is the Key to Patriot Pride Week."

Winners of the drug awareness billboard contest were recognized and the Douglas High School Color Guard presented the colors while the students sang "The Pledge of Allegiance Rap" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Kennedy isn't the only one fond of the day. Students look forward to it, said second-grade teacher Kay Larus. Kennedy has heard from high school students who still have their tie-dyed shirts from the event.

The songs, some of them written by Kennedy, are about self-esteem, knowledge, being drug-free, staying in school and celebrating accomplishments.

Her second-grade students are old enough to understand the drug-free message, Larus said.

"They can tell me what a good drug is and what a bad drug is," she said.

This year, the students also sang a song written by Kennedy called "Best in the West," celebrating the school's

Distinguished School title, given by the South Dakota Department of Education for improved test scores.

"You might as well flaunt it if you got it," Kennedy said, laughing before the students filed into the gym.

A handful of parents and administrators lined the walls to watch the students perform.

During the songs, students remained seated, their small hands waving in the air to choreographed movements.

Student Tyler Iron Lightning read the words on a screen and then giggled as she watched the friend beside her sing along.

It doesn't all come together overnight, Kennedy said.

"We are like a mean machine," Kennedy said. "Everybody has their job and they know what to do."

Midway through the songs, school counselor Rena Woltjer stood to announce the winners of the billboard contest.

One student from each class was called to the front and given awards, and three students were selected from that group.

"We are so proud of every one of you," Woltjer said.

Heaven Griffiths stayed afterward to get a picture taken with fellow billboard winners.

Toting a bag of goodies in one hand and a basketball in the other, she couldn't stop smiling.

"I think it was really fun," she said.

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com