Pubdate: Thu, 09 Apr 2009
Source: Picayune Item (MS)
Copyright: 2009 The Picayune Item
Contact:  http://www.picayuneitem.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1309
Author: Jeremy Pittari
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

NICHOLSON HAS FIRST DARE GRADUATION

PICAYUNE - Students at Nicholson Elementary completed a nine-week
course that aims to help them make the choice to stay drug free.

Thursday morning, 55 students at the school graduated from the Drug
Abuse Resistance Education program, taught by Pearl River County
Sheriff's Department Sgt. Ishmael "Rocket" Quiroz.

Before they were presented with their certificates, the children heard
from Sheriff David Allison and special guest B.J. Condrey. Condrey
told the students about the importance of self worth. Each child,
dressed in black DARE shirts, listened to Condrey. He especially
appeared to have their attention when he ripped a $5 bill in half, his
way of representing the loss of self value that the decision to do
drugs could mean.

After Condrey's speech, one student in each period was presented with
a medallion for a winning essay. Quiroz said each student was required
to turn in an essay about what he or she learned during the nine
weeks. The winning essays were written by Devin Hedgepeth, Bert Morlas
and Demetrious Mitchell.

After presentation of the medallions and the reading of each winning
essay, all the graduates walked up to the front to receive their
certificates.

Allison said the effort to start the program began in January of 2008
when he wanted to come up with a way to address the drug problem in
the county. The decision to reach children before they get into drugs
led to the implementation of the DARE Program at Nicholson Elementary.
Allison said with the support of the principal, Vera Beech, and the
county Board of Supervisors, he had only one decision to make, which
officer to teach the classes.

Picking Quiroz was a decision that Allison said turned out to be
beneficial. Allison said Quiroz is a good Christian and interacts well
with children. Nicholson Elementary teacher Kerri Snider told the
audience that Quiroz is well liked by all the students in her class,
even begging her to pull him in from the hallway so they can ask him a
question.

"It just all fell into place," Allison said. "I would like to thank
all of the people who made this dream a reality."

Quiroz said this year there was time to conduct only one class.
However, since the program is underway, there may be time next year to
hold two classes. In the mean time he plans to start building
relationships with the students of Nicholson Elementary.

Currently Nicholson Elementary is the only school in the Picayune and
Pearl River County school districts to offer the DARE Program, Allison
said. Poplarville schools do have a similar program, he said.
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