HERMITAGE STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM DARE PROGRAM

Although it's only about half way through the school year the grade
five and six students at John Watkins Academy in Hermitage recently
went through a formal graduation ceremony.

The students, along with thousands of others across the country,
graduated from the RCMP's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
Program on Jan. 25.

The DARE curriculum challenges students by having them participate in
active learning about substance abuse and violence prevention. The
benefit to the students is the strong foundation of decision making
skills they apply to real life situations about the use of alcohol,
tobacco, marijuana and inhalants.

The students are actively engaged as they learn how to cope with the
pressures associated with adolescence. DARE officers are trained as
'coaches' to support students who are using these research-based
refusal strategies in high-stakes peer pressure environments. DARE is
about giving young students the skills and information they need to
make good life choices.

Cst. Norma Francis of the Harbour Breton RCMP Detachment taught the
10-hour program to the students at John Watkins Academy. The students
learned about the harmful effects of drugs and strategies for dealing
with possible difficult situations.

Cody Feaver and Jade Ryan, were two of the students at John Watkins
who participated in the program.

"I really enjoyed the program as Cst.Francis is a really good
teacher," said Cody. "I enjoyed learning about different drugs and the
effects they can have on your body."

Jade said she enjoyed the program because they learned how to say no
when people ask them to do things.

"I think this program will help me in the future when I have to make
decisions about getting involved with drugs and tobacco."