Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 Source: Mayerthorpe Freelancer (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 The Freelancer Contact: http://www.mayerthorpefreelancer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/733 Author: Rosemary Austen, Mayerthorpe Freelancer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) STUDENTS DARE TO LIVE HEALTHY Elmer Elson Elementary Grade 6 Students Enthusiastically Look Ahead To A Life Free Of Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs And Violence MAYERTHORPE -- Elmer Elson elementary Grade 6 students enthusiastically look ahead to a life free of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and violence as they officially graduated from the RCMP directed DARE program. DARE, an acronym for drug abuse resistance education, is a comprehensive prevention education program designed to equip school children with skills to recognize and resist social pressures to experiment with drugs and resist violence. The DARE program utilizes law enforcement officers to teach a formal curriculum to students in a classroom setting. DARE gives special attention to fifth and sixth grade students to prepare them for entry into intermediate and high school, where they are most likely to encounter pressure to use drugs. Local Grade 6 students completed a nine-week course officially graduating from the program in a special assembly held Thursday evening. Students were awarded a certificate for their hard work and ongoing commitment to the program. Local teachers say they are thrilled with their students' accomplishments and say they have learned a great deal and are very happy students had the opportunity to participate. "They loved it, they learned a lot and there was lots of interaction and ideas through skits and discussion," said Grade 6 teacher Brenda Henrikson. She said it was really effective to have a uniformed law enforcement officer working in the classroom. "That is what makes it a special program, an RCMP officer comes in and offers [their] perspective and applies their knowledge, it really make students listen and learn." This year Mayerthorpe RCMP Const. Cindie Dennis taught the course. Teachers made a special point to thank her for a job well done. "She interacted with the students really well and did a great job. It was a great success," Henrikson concludes. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl