Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2007
Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA)
Copyright: 2007 The Republican
Contact:  http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Author: Buffy Spencer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

PUPILS SPEAK OUT TO END DRUG USE

AGAWAM - If friends try to get you to drink or smoke,  they are not 
real friends, Angelina Pietroniro said.

Pietroniro was one of the four essay contest winners  who read their 
compositions to an enthusiastic crowd in  the Middle School 
auditorium at the DARE graduation on  Friday. DARE stands for Drug 
Abuse Resistance  Education.

Parents were invited, and each of the fifth-graders got  a 
certificate and T-shirt and shook hands with Mayor  Richard A. Cohen; 
state Rep. Rosemary Sandlin,  D-Agawam; Police Chief Robert D. 
Campbell and Assistant  School Superintendent William Sapelli.

Susan Federico, acting assistant middle school  principal, read the 
names of all DARE graduates.

The essay contest winners were Angelina, Gina M. Lopez,  Erica L. 
Gallerani and Andrew S. Provost.

Cohen told the pupils that the education through the  DARE program is 
an example of how much family, friends,  educators, town officials 
and others care about them.  He told them to talk to the people that 
care about them  when they are faced with making choices.

The two DARE officers are Karen Langevin and John T.  Field. Field 
said this is the first year there will be  a sixth-grade DARE 
program, so he would see the  fifth-graders again next year.

Sandlin said that a lot of schools do not have the  opportunity or 
funds for DARE programs. She said the  basic message is good 
behavior. "Agawam is proud of  you," she said.

Campbell said that each year at DARE graduations when  he sees the 
fresh faces, it makes him see it is all  worthwhile.

In his essay, Andrew said that drugs and alcohol can do  many harmful 
things to your body. "Alcohol and drugs  are not going to screw up my 
life," he said. "I also  play hockey so I don't want my reflexes to be gone."

Erica said, "Lots of people, including me, don't know  why people use 
drugs." She said that she has learned  that it is illegal to sell 
tobacco to anyone under 18  years old and that alcohol slows the 
brain and central  nervous system.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman