DRUG RESISTANT GRADUATES SHINE

Over 100 people gathered at the Activity Centre Thursday night to
celebrate the graduation of 43 Grade 6 students from the DARE (Drug
Abuse Resistance Education) program.

The 17-week program, designed to educate young people on the dangers
of drug and alcohol use, was offered for the first time in Jasper.

"Finally we got to provide our kids a program that's worthwhile," said
Const. Melanie Piche, who volunteered her time heading the project,
which entailed spending 90 minutes a week with the sixth graders.

DARE, an international program that began in Los Angeles in 1983, aims
to help children by teaching them the effects of mind-altering drugs,
different ways to manage stress, how to build self-esteem and be
assertive, different resistance techniques, and alternatives to
drinking and doing drugs.

According to elementary school principle Steve Carlyle, who was first
introduced to the program in Edmonton, DARE is important for teaching
children the skills to say no to drugs and alcohol.

"For [the students] this is a beginning," he told the audience. "The
important thing is how they will carry this out in the next few years."

For the graduation show, the two Grade 6 classes acted out skits
demonstrating each of the skills they were taught by Const. Piche. In
addition, four students read essays they had written as part of the
curriculum. At the end of the show there was a ceremony where
graduates were presented with certificates, T-shirts, and DARE water
bottles.

Most importantly, the graduates themselves appeared to take the
lessons to heart.

"It was a good learning program," said Stephanie Frigon. "I'm sure it
will be very useful to all of us in our daily lives."