Pubdate: Wed, 25 May 2005
Source: Terrace Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Terrace Standard
Contact:  http://www.terracestandard.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1329
Author: Kat Lee
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DARING CROP OF STUDENTS FIRST TO MAKE THE GRADE

For some students, graduation comes early.

For the Grade 5 students at Clarence Michiel Elementary School,
graduation came on May 19.

The students graduated from the DARE program, which stands for Drug
and Alcohol Resistance Education. DARE also stands for Define, Assess,
Respond and Evaluate.

The goal of the program is to teach kids to resist drugs and
violence.

"I'm glad I took this class because I learned many things I'd never
heard of before," Kaylan Stone said as she read her personal essay out
to the DARE grads and attending parents.

Contstable Kelly Martin and Inspector Marlin Degrand from the RCMP
taught the DARE program to the two Grade 5 classes throughout a
nine-week period. They came to the school for one hour each week
between February and May to teach kids to resist drugs and the pull of
peer pressure.

"You guys have completely exceeded my expectations," Martin said.
"You're beyond what I expected."

The students participated in their graduation by reading their
personal essays and performing skits, sharing with the audience what
they had learned about drinking, smoking, drugs, and peer pressure.

Principal Cheryl Sebastian was happy to have the DARE program in the
school.

"The kids worked very hard," she said.

They are the first public school students to graduate from the program
in the community.

Martin says that although only private schools have previously
participated in the program, she's looking to interest more public
schools next year.

"We'll keep on in the public schools as long as they want us," she
said. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake