DARE GRADUATION APPROACHING

Another class of Grade 6 students is near the end of a learning
process highlighting the consequences of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

The DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is used in the Jasper
Elementary School each year and has been run the past five years by
Const. Stephanie Lutes of the Jasper RCMP.

She visits the school for 10 one-hour class sessions to talk to
students about issues like drug and alcohol abuse and the dangers of
smoking. She also relates those issues to social factors like peer
pressure, self-esteem, media influences, smart and informed choices,
and ways to handle the pressures.

Lutes said the program has a number of goals including:

* covering topics with the kids that may not be areas of discussion
at home with parents, or perhaps making it easier for parents and
kids to start talking about the issues that they will inevitably face
as they enter junior and senior high school.

* giving the kids the facts about things - separating the myths from the truths

* exposing the students to a police officer both in uniform and in
civilian clothing "I'm hopefully showing them that the police are
there to help and can be approached and trusted," she said. For some
of the classes...I attend in civilian clothing - this is a good way
for the students to see that police officers are 'regular people.'"

* allowing the students a time in which they can ask questions and
get answers about those things that they are curious about.

This year, 58 Grade 6 students took part in the program, which is
wrapping up in early March. Earlier, the kids wrote an essay about
what they learned in DARE, what the program means to them or how they
plan to stay drug-free.

At the end of the program, students will perform skits, which
together with their workbooks and class participation, will be
factored together for a student to be eligible for DARE graduation
(which takes place on March 8).

The program is a win-win situation for all those involved, according to Lutes.

"There is always great support from parents, the schools and
teachers, and the students enjoy the program." .