Pubdate: Wed, 04 Feb 2004
Source: News Transcript (NJ)
Pubdate: February 4, 2004
Contact:  http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/
Author: Dave Benjamin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

DARE CEREMONY MARKS STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENTS

MANALAPAN - Students in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School
District are hearing the message to make good choices that will last a
lifetime.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) program has now seen 10 DARE graduating classes at the Pine
Brook School, Pease Road.

Students, teachers, administrators and officers from the Manalapan
Police Department recently celebrated the completion of a 15-week DARE
curriculum.

Manalapan Police Chief Stuart Brown noted this was the first time
pupils had the 15-week DARE program and said police and school
administrators were looking forward to seeing how it works.

While new information has been added, the aim of the DARE program
still remains the same: to instill in the students the information
they need to make knowledgeable decisions in the future.

"The program is geared to teach students the dangers of tobacco,
alcohol and drugs," said DARE officer Patrolman Joseph F. Felicia.
"The program alsodeals with other social issues that young people
might face, such as peer pressure, self-esteem and
assertiveness."

Felicia said the program reinforces good family values, common sense
and good decision making. As an added bonus, the youngsters have a
chance to make friends with a police officer.

DARE officer Patrolman Gerald Bruno said, "The DARE graduation is
really a starting point for these young people. This is the beginning
of their journey into the teenage years and this program can help them
along the way."

Approximately 340 Pine Brook pupils attended the graduation
celebration. Every student involved in the program received a DARE
graduation certificate, a stuffed miniature DARE, animal named Darren,
a DARE T-shirt, a Manalapan Township DARE lapel pin and bumper stickers.

Students also received certifi-cates from four local merchants: the
American Snack Exchange for free Italian ices; Dusals Pizza for a free
slice of pizza and a soft drink; Wawa, Route 9, or Wawa, Union Hill
Road, for a 22-ounce soft drink; and the Video Home Center for a free
movie rental.

Gift certificates were presented to the winners of the DARE poster and
essay contests.

Poster contest winners were Steven Simione, Allison Bernknopf, Daniel
Havkins, Laura McLoughlin, Jackie Calia, Ethan Winter, Sabrina Loisi,
Marissa Silverberg, Devin Allessio, Jackie Gallo, Allysa Covello,
Kristen Pavlik, Deanna Daluise and Danielle Muccino.

Essay contest winners were Lianne Silano, Jenna Keenan, Michelle
Kaplun, Jessica Trombetta, Hannah Greenwald, Hayley Wright, Michael
Stallone, Jessica Lauer, Robert Lavecchia, Brandon Bahr, Samantha
Susson, Sara Hartigan, Michelle Kaminsky and Victoria Calaput.

Grand prize contest winners re-ceived gift certificates from Best Buy.
Amanda Figliolini and Ashley Agbulos were the grand prize win-ners in
the poster contest and Nicole Martino and Joseph Cardella were the
grand prize winners in the essay contest.

Adding to the graduation cele-bration with several musical inter-ludes
were the students in the Pine Brook Jazz Band under the leader-ship of
John Rusin.

Speaking to the DARE gradu-ates, Principal Tom Sherman said,
"Sixth-graders, you have been taught many refusal skills. Hopefully,
in the future, you will not have to experience peer pres-sure to do
something you don't wish to do. But if you do find yourself in a
difficult spot, remember what you have learned and all the im-portant
people in your life who love you."

Sherman thanked the DARE of-ficers for being positive role models for
the students.

The Pine Brook School PTA provided a bagel breakfast for all who
attended the event.

James Mumolie, president of the Board of Education, said, "The DARE
program is essential to our children because it enables them to
realize that the most important person they are going to deal with in
their lives is themselves. [Children have to deal with] peer pressure,
societal pressure and pressure to be the most popular kid. The DARE
program teaches them to believe in themselves.Superintendent of
Schools Maureen Lally said, "Our district has been a long time
participant in the DARE program. The program teaches the students that
they have to be responsible for their own actions. We know from our
violence and vandalism reports the very low [number of] problems that
we have in this district; that the DARE program works and that's what
makes it effective."

She said the district is fortunate to have Bruno and Felicia working
on this particular program.

Also in attendance was Mayor Beth Ward, who said, "The DARE program is
one of our most valued programs. It gives the children in our
community the tools they will need in the years to come to deal with
issues they will inevitably have to face during their high school years."

Ward said she is indebted to the officers who do such a good job and
is thankful for all of the volunteers who are involved in the program.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin