As the school year nears its end, district elementary students are being honoured not for knowing their grammar or arithmetic but what they’ve learned about staying away from drugs.
The first graduation ceremony of the OPP’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program was held Monday afternoon at St. Francis School here, where grade six students in Melanie Fafard and Karen Supinski’s classes received certificates for completing the program.
“It’s a 17-week program to education students about drug and alcohol,” said Fort Frances OPP Cst. Al MacDonald during his introduction to the gym full of students and some parents.
“And I found this as rewarding and enjoyable as I always do.”
Previously headed by Cst. Cameron Howard, Cst. MacDonald spearheaded the effort in district schools this year.
In the classroom, students learn skills such as what to do in a confrontation with another, gangs, and dealing with stress. And Cst. MacDonald pointed out that for students to graduate from DARE, they have to maintain good attendance and exhibit good behaviour in the classroom all year-long.
Six students also were congratulated for their top essays on what they learned from DARE. Scott Sampson was awarded first place–the plush toy “Darren the DARE lion”–for Fafard’s class, followed by Tara Tovey and Alex Parent.
In Supinski’s class, Katie Blais was recognized as the best essay writer, along with Susie Sonnasinh and Courtney Bazinet. All students participated in the essay contest.
St. Francis principal Mariette McRae lent her support for the program.
“Grade six is such a good age to catch the kids. They’re still impressionable, and the officers we’ve had–Cst. Cam Howard and now Cst. MacDonald–have really made an impact on the kids,” she enthused.
“They give the kids such a positive image of police officers. They really see him [Cst. MacDonald] as their friend,” added McRae.
Mayor Glenn Witherspoon also was on hand to share a few words. “The more knowledge you have being street smart, the better. And DARE can do nothing but help you out,” he remarked.
Fort Frances OPP Sgt. Steve Shouldice also congratulated the students on a successful year of learning with the DARE program.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
