Pubdate: Wed, 15 Mar 2006
Source: Rappahannock News (VA)
Copyright: Times Community Newspapers 2006
Contact:  http://www.RappahannockNews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3690
Author: Jan Clatterbuck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

THESE STUDENTS DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

More than 75 fifth graders at Rappahannock County  Elementary School
walked across the stage Friday, March  10 to receive certificates of
graduation and special  Rappahannock DARE T-shirts, their prize for
completing  the D.A.R.E. Program. Taught by Captain Jeff Brown of  the
Rappahannock County Sheriffs Office, the Drug Abuse  Resistance
Education (D.A.R.E.) program teaches  children how to say "NO" to
drugs and alcohol.

D.A.R.E. also allows young people to get to know the  police officer
in something other than a "blue light"  setting. This is good for the
kids and good for the  officers, because it lets kids know that the
police are  not something to be afraid of, but real people who want
to help.

Captain Brown took special pleasure in announcing the  three winners
of the DARE essay competition called  "Taking a Stand-- How to avoid
drugs and alcohol." The  winners read their entries aloud at the
graduation.  Each had been voted as the winner in their class by
their fellow students.

Also attending the ceremonies were parents,  grandparents of
graduating students, and the students  of the fourth grade.

According to the mother of Dare graduate Tiffany Bowen,  her daughter
has learned a lot from the DARE program,  and even taught her mother
some things that she did not  know. "Capt. Brown is doing a great job
with the  children and he needs to keep up the good work," said  Mrs.
Bowen.

According to Linda Dwyer, grandmother of graduate  Brittany Atkins,
DARE kids learn and benefit from this  program in surprising ways that
benefit the children  and the school.

The slide show at the end of the DARE Graduation always  features
candid photos of the students having fun, and  is always the most
popular part of DARE graduation,  according to Capt. Brown.

Sheriff Larry Sherertz was the guest speaker at the  ceremony. He
congratulated all of the students on their  achievement.

"Not only does DARE teach children to stay off drugs  and resist peer
pressure, but it also establishes a  positive relationship between
children and police  officers," said Sherertz.

The Sheriff also emphasized that those lines of  communication between
the children and police officers  should remain open, in order to
promote safety.

The focal point of those lines of communication,  Captain Jeff Brown,
has been selected as the DARE  Officer of the Year for the
Commonwealth of Virginia.  His leadership with the DARE Program, Shop
with a  Deputy, and DARE Day as well as his work as the  Resource
Officer for the Rappahannock County Public  Schools makes Brown a very
positive influence on the  young people in this community.
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MAP posted-by: Derek