Pubdate: Tue, 03 May 2005
Source: Pincher Creek Echo (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Pincher Creek Echo
Contact:  http://www.pinchercreekecho.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1835
Author: Fraser Tingle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ST. MICHAEL'S D.A.R.E. GRADUATION

Pincher Creek Echo -- On Wednesday, April 27, St. Michael's Grade 6 French 
and English class, along with the Grade 5 French immersion class graduated 
from the D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug and Alcohol 
Resistance Education, is a program designed to teach students life skills 
that will help them avoid drugs, alcohol, and violence, and deal with peer 
pressure. They learn avoidance techniques, role-play, and talk about the 
effects of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Const. Trevor Baldwin taught the 
program which consists of 10 lessons over a 15-week period.

Baldwin, who spoke at the graduation ceremony, said that while students 
certainly become aware of the dangers of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, 
"they learn a lot more than that. [The D.A.R.E. program] teaches them how 
to be confident [and] it teaches them how to be assertive." Baldwin also 
said the program was effective in creating a comfortable rapport between 
students and the RCMP.

Jordan Conrad is a student who participated in the program, and co-hosted 
the graduation. He told those students and parents in attendance that he 
and his classmates learned about "peer pressure," and "how to say no." He 
said the lessons learned were "a life skill that helps us make healthy 
choices."

Students were required to write a report on what they and learned, and some 
of them were read aloud by their authors. A few essays related tragedies 
that had affected the author's life and family because of drugs, cigarettes 
or alcohol. Students also made personal pledges about abstaining from 
drugs, and when they are older, using alcohol responsibly.

Students performed skits, illustrating the skills they had learned for 
dealing with peer pressure and other potentially difficult situations. The 
ceremony culminated with the students receiving their D.A.R.E. graduation 
certificates, and a T-shirt.

Baldwin handed out the certificates, and shook each student's hand in 
congratulation.