Pubdate: Sat, 18 Nov 2006
Source: Oakville Beaver (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Oakville Beaver
Contact:  http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/ob/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1600
Note: Authored by by the Grade 6 Students St. Joan of Arc Elementary School
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENTS DARE TO RAISE MONEY ON HALLOWEEN

Kids Speak Out, School News

Oct. 31 is a date we all know as Halloween. But, the people of the 
St. Joan of Arc Elementary School community will remember it also as 
the date of their 5th annual DARE Walk-a-thon.

This year's theme was a Halloween costume parade. The whole school 
took part in raising money to support the DARE program by parading in 
costume around the school community. The costumes worn were a 
combination of the wild, wacky, wonderful and weird!

The DARE program is run by Halton Regional Police and teaches Grade 6 
students about the harmful effects of drugs, violence and peer 
pressure. DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Young 
students across North America learn about the negative consequences 
of drugs like alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, from a DARE officer 
who visits their school for 10 weeks.

Each lesson is 40 minutes long, and takes place once a week. The 
program targets Grade 6 students to prepare them for high school 
where they are most likely to experience pressure to use drugs.

Students successfully complete the program by: participating in all 
the lessons, demonstrating good drug-free behaviour both during and 
outside of class; writing a DARE report and pledging to make wise 
decisions about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

These students attend a DARE graduation ceremony, and join millions 
of other DARE students who have chosen to be drug-free.

A secondary part of the DARE program involves raising money to ensure 
that future Grade 6 students have the opportunity to learn and 
participate in the program. Funds raised contribute to covering the 
costs of the program. Some of the costs include DARE booklets, 
videos, and officers' salaries.

The DARE program also has other worthwhile fundraisers in the 
community. Presently there is a Kicks for Kids campaign. This 
involves Oakville's own Mike Vanderjagt of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys 
who is supporting DARE. Vanderjagt has generously pledged $100 for 
every successful field goal he makes this year.

Here at St. Joan of Arc, a walk-a-thon to raise funds was chosen 
because walking is active and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Being involved in extracurricular activities is one way DARE suggests 
students avoid drugs.

Not only did the Grade 6 students at St. Joan of Arc get involved in 
the walk-a-thon costume parade, but the entire school got involved 
and showed their support by raising money, dressing up and walking too.

It was an absolute delight for the neighbourhood of the St. Joan of 
Arc community to see this parade on Halloween. This was an excellent 
way to combine the fun of Halloween with a most worthwhile cause.

Miss Parisi's and Mr. Culhane's Grade 6 classes would like to give a 
special shout out to Const. Brenda Fraser, their DARE officer, and to 
all the staff, students and families of the St. Joan of Arc community 
who made the Halloween Walk-a-thon Parade of Costumes a spooktacular success.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman