USD 490 fifth grade students received Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) completion certificates during a ceremony on December 14.
El Dorado City Police Chief Mike Holton, Buter County Sheriff Monty Hughey, USD 490 Police Chief Tyson Nielsen, USD 490 Superintendent Jenifer Davis, and El Dorado Middle School Principal Tom Simmons attended to recognize the students’ hard work.
D.A.R.E. initially began in Los Angeles, Cal. In 1983 and subsequently gained momentum bringing drug awareness and resistance education to schools across the United States. In USD 490, local police and sheriff’s departments have typically led the program for fifth grade students, but it was not offered the last couple of years.
The USD 490 police department was able to bring the program back this school year by having School Resource Officer Jason Lowery teach the lessons. Some of the topics include learning about risks and consequences of using drugs or drinking alcohol, dealing with peer pressure, dealing with stress, avoiding destructive decisions, making good choices, and surrounding yourself with people who will have a positive impact on your life.
“Remember the skills you learned in D.A.R.E as you transition to the middle and high school and face situations that may be new, challenging, or difficult,” Superintendent Davis said.
To wrap up the D.A.R.E. program, students were required to write an essay about what they learned. A winning essay was selected from each of the schools. At Blackmore, the essay winner was Bentley Jehner. At Grandview, it was Ellea Vogt. Skelly’s essay winner was Rorie Burns.