Pubdate: Wed, 23 Dec 2009
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2009 The Salt Lake Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sltrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383
Author: Alicia Greenleigh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

GRADUATION DAY FOR D.A.R.E. STUDENTS

Ceremony - Fifth-Graders Have Mayor, Police Chief Onboard.

Murray - If high school graduation is the seminal moment of teenagers'
lives, then D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduation just
might be the equivalent for fifth-graders.

On Dec. 17, students at Longview Elementary had their D.A.R.E.
graduation, each receiving certificates and new crisp, white D.A.R.E.
T-shirts. The ceremony was attended by Murray City Mayor Daniel Snarr,
Police Chief Peter Fondaco, D.A.R.E. officer Keith Huber and assistant
superintendent Steven Hirasse.

The Murray luminaries encouraged students to study hard and say no to
drugs. But one surprise came from the often-colorful Snarr, who shared
a personal story of losing his son in 2007 to prescription pain
killers. Several students in the gymnasium seemed moved by the story.

Snarr said he makes a point of attending all D.A.R.E. graduations in
the district. Longview's was number 98 since he was elected.

"I tell everyone at the office to clear my schedule so I can come all
these [graduations], because I want the students to know that they're
important," Snarr said.

Gary Milner, a fifth-grade teacher at Longview, said the students were
excited and impressed by the mayor's presence.

Since the 1980s, Utah schools have incorporated D.A.R.E. into the
regular fifth-grade curriculum. At Longview, Officer Huber visited
every Thursday for an hour for 10 weeks to teach kids about the
dangers of drugs. Students completed workbooks, watched educational
videos and learned how to say no if they're ever offered drugs.

Brandon Dinger, 10, who was chosen read an essay about D.A.R.E. at the
ceremony, said in an interview that the most important thing he
learned was "the impact of drugs and what they can do you if you use
them."

Brandon added his favorite part of the assembly was shaking hands with
all the Murray officials.

Taryn Iams , 11, was also chosen to read an essay she wrote for
graduation. When asked what she learned from D.A.R.E., Taryn said,
"The most important thing is to say no and the best way is to do it
confidently."

Huber, who has taught D.A.R.E. off and on for 15 years, said the
program can make a difference in what kids do with their lives.

"I think the most important thing is to educate kids about drugs,
because they're out there, and [students] might not know what to do in
that situation," Huber said. "If I can get one kid that says no [to
drugs] because of what I taught, then that's a win."

The most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted every two years
by the Utah Department of Health, found one in 10 students in grades 9
through 12 had used marijuana one or more times in the 30 days prior
to the survey, conducted in July 2009.

Gwen Brockbank, 11, was named D.A.R.E. student of the year and
received her very own Darren the Lion, a stuffed animal, which is the
program's mascot.

"My favorite part [of D.A.R.E.] was the drunk goggles, because Officer
Huber threw a rubber chicken at us and we had to catch it and throw it
back, but no one could," Gwen said.

Fondaco told students "friends don't offer friends drugs," and
stressed the importance of talking with parents about the dangers of
drugs and what to do if they are offered drugs.

"It doesn't stop here," he said. "You all need to keep talking to
parents, talking to your teachers about it so you can make the right
decision about drugs." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D