Pubdate: Tue, 01 May 2007
Source: Express-Times, The (PA)
Copyright: 2007 The Express-Times
Contact:  http://www.pennlive.com/expresstimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1489
Author: Jd Malone
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

STUDENTS VOW TO SAY 'NO'

Moore Sixth-Graders Complete 12-Week D.A.R.E. Program.

MOORE TWP. - Robert "Officer Bob" Peloquin stood on the  small stage
Monday at Moore Elementary School and  applauded 76 sixth-graders
graduating from a 12-week  Drug Awareness and Resistance Education
program.

Peloquin placed both hands on the thin podium, leaned  over the
microphone and explained to the students,  their teachers and families
why, after 12 years and  handing out more than 1,200 diplomas, he's
still a  D.A.R.E. educator. "You need to do more with students  then
just tell them no," he said.

According to Northampton School District Superintendent  Linda
Firestone, the sixth-graders face challenges,  temptations, and peer
pressure in the years ahead.

"You have to help us make this a safer place,"  Firestone said, citing
nine expulsions in the past  seven weeks at Northampton High School
related to drug  and/or alcohol use.

The sixth graders wore black T-shirts printed with the  D.A.R.E. logo
as they listened to numerous guest  speakers.

John Morganelli, Northampton County district attorney,  said he had to
prepare for a murder trial starting  Monday afternoon.

"You know why that person was murdered?" Morganelli  asked. "Because
of drugs."

Morganelli implored the students to remember the  lessons Peloquin
taught them, to keep saying no and to  help others avoid poor choices.

"We want all of you on our side," Morganelli said. "I  want you on our
team."

The final guest speaker, Dr. Jack Chambers from St.  Luke's Hospital,
reminded students that many people  never make it to jail. He pointed
back to the 40-minute  lecture he gave about the severe physical
consequences  of using drugs and alcohol.

"I hope you remember some of the things I showed you,"  Chambers said.
"If you don't want that (to happen to  you), it is as easy as saying,
'No.'"

Four students, honored for writing the best essays in  their
respective classrooms, spoke about what they  learned and how they
hope to stay away from tobacco,  drugs and alcohol.

Josh Ryan, Brad Stackhouse, Olivia Bush and Rachel  Becker rattled off
statistics, cited ways to dodge peer  pressure and vowed to stay out
of trouble.

Bush described refusing drugs by saying, "No," over and  over like a
broken CD. Bush said to get out of a bad  situation use humor, change
the subject or walk away.  Stackhouse promised not to use illegal drugs.

"Remember," Becker said to her classmates. "You are  saying no to (a
friend's offer of drugs or alcohol),  not to their friendship."
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