Pubdate: Tue, 17 Feb 2004
Source: Russell Banner, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2004 The Russell Banner
Contact:  http://www.russellbanner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2371
Author: Terrie Welwood
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Note: Titled by map

DARE GRADUATION

Constable Brianne Chanel of the Russell Community office of the Prairie 
Mountain Detachment and the 39 students of Major Pratt's grade six classes 
celebrated their graduation from the RCMP sponsored DARE program designed 
to educate kids about the dangers and alcohol, drugs and tobacco and open 
up lines of communication about the issue.

"I think the kids knew that they were at that age when they'd have to start 
making some decisions. And the program opened up the lines of 
communication. Brianne created an atmosphere where the kids felt 
comfortable to ask anything and she really developed a rapport with them. I 
know that all the kids really looked forward to that class every week - 
Grade six teacher Gord Baskerville on the RCMP's DARE program."

Here in Major Pratt, at least, it was a first.

And what a success it was.

The RCMP sponsored DARE program has been a round for a while. Started in 
the U. S., the program made it's way up to Canada a few years ago.

While the foundation of the DARE program is drug awareness, the premise 
behind the program is establishing an open line of communication with the 
grade six students.

"The DARE curriculum is excellent," Major Pratt's Vice Principal Rob 
Tomlinson said. "It's proven and used right across

North America. It's a great course that the kids were always very excited 
about attending. I know that a lot of the kids were sad after the 17 week 
program was over." But the course itself, he said was only one portion of 
the end result.

"It was observed that the kids definitely developed a relationship with 
Brianne who is also our school liaison officer with the RCMP," he added.

And if anything, Tomlinson said, the building of trust between the RCMP and 
DARE students was also one of the main goals of the program.

"We wanted the students to know who she is, to learn that they can actually 
talk to her and develop that rapport. So the DARE program and all the other 
positive aspects were really kind of a bonus."

The success of the program, Tomlinson said, came because of the relaxed 
atmosphere Cst. Chanel brought to the classroom.

"In Brianne's classroom there was an anonymous question box and a lot of 
discussion," he explained.

"That was really the key to the whole program. The whole thing was based on 
opening up the lines of communication. And Brianne did a fantastic job of 
creating a relaxed, non threatening atmosphere where there were no stupid 
questions."

"And at this age, really perfect age for the program kids have a lot of 
misconceptions and questions they need answered."

And the work Cst. Chanel put into the program, he said, is greatly appreciated.

"Brianne was in the classroom for a total of 34 hours of classroom time," 
Tomlinson said. "That in itself is phenomenal, especially for someone who 
works shift work to take the time, first to train for the course and then 
to prepare for the classroom time. All for the sake of the kids."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom