Pubdate: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2006, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332 Author: Bruce Bell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) STUDENTS SAY NO TO DRUGS PICTON - There are now 153 more Grade 6 students in Prince Edward County who wouldn't DARE touch drugs. Students from four elementary schools in the municipality attended a graduation ceremony at Prince Edward Collegiate Friday, after completing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program this fall. Led by Const. Kim Guthrie, the community service officer for the Prince Edward Ontario Provincial Police detachment, students learned about the perils of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Guthrie said she was overwhelmed by the students' response to the program during the initial sessions. "The kids really seemed to love the program and I am overjoyed that they took so much more from it than I ever thought they would," she said during a luncheon preceding the awarding of certificates. "They were so eager to learn and every one of them participated so willingly." Over a 10-week period, Guthrie, along with program mascot Daren, an 11-year-old stuffed lion symbolizing strength and courage, visited each classroom weekly delivering her message. Students from Kente, Massassaga-Rednersville, Pinecrest Memorial and Queen Elizabeth in Picton participated while four different Prince Edward schools will begin the sessions after Christmas. The program was established by the Los Angeles Police Department and the city's school board in 1984. Guthrie had to undergo an intensive two-week training session in Aylmer to obtain certification to become a DARE officer. Students in Prince Edward County are the first in the Quinte region to use the program. During Friday's ceremony, two students from each participating class read their final reports. Tailer Thompson, a Grade 6 student at Pinecrest Memorial, pledged to never smoke, do drugs or drink alcohol before he was 19. He also said DARE taught him how to avoid trouble. "We are getting to the age where people might tell us they don't want to be our friend if we don't do what they want us to, but we learned if they are our real friend, they won't treat us like that," he said. "Const. Guthrie taught us that there is strength in numbers and you can always just walk away from people like that." Sydnee Mulridge, one of 39 Queen Elizabeth students to complete the program, also said she is not afraid to say no. "Const. Guthrie taught us how to deal with people who might offer us drugs and if you just say no - it's cool," she said. "I think one of the most important things she taught us is that it's a lot easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble." For the Prince Edward students, DARE replaced the VIP program which still runs at a number of other schools in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Superintendent of Instruction David Fox attended Friday's ceremony and said the program could make its way into other school groups in the future. "I know Const. Guthrie went through extensive training in order to get certified to be a DARE instructor and the problem is we have eight police forces in our board area," he said. "You have to have someone who is qualified to run the program and from what I am hearing about it, we would certainly entertain the idea of expanding it to other areas - we just can't do it alone." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman