DARE TO BE DRUG FREE

SJS Students Participate In Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Program

On June 12, the grade five class graduated in a special ceremony held
at St. Joseph's for the completion of a 10 week lesson conducted by
Cst. Norma Francis of the Harbour Breton RCMP detachment on drug abuse
resistance and awareness program.

According to Cst. Norma Francis, the program includes: lessons on drug
resistance and awareness, peer pressure and bullying, as well as how
to avoid risky situations.

The unique ceremony included songs and skits which the students wrote
and stared in to inform their parents and community members what they
had learned. As well the graduation ceremony with the presentation of
certificates and DARE t-shirts by Cpl. Lawlor.

The children put off four skits: one group spoke about the dangers of
smoking, another about the dangers of drug usage and the other two
spoke of the dangers of drinking and why not to drink.

As well four students wrote a song about the program and preformed it
during this time.

" The program teaches students not only the facts about drugs, peer
pressure and bullying but also how to avoid these situations all
together by using the DARE method of decession making. The four
letters of D A R E also refer to. D is used for define the situation,
A is to asses the situation, R is to respond to the problem and E is
to evaluate the problem," said Cst. Francis

As well in order to graduate each student is asked to complete a DARE
report.

Joshua Strickland came forward and read his DARE report during the
ceremony.

Within the report Joshua spoke of what he had learned about the
program and pledged that he would not start doing any drugs.

Cst. Francis, believes that if she can even reach one student with
this program then her efforts were worth while.

"I can't guarantee parents that their child/children may not face peer
pressure after completing this course or guarantee they will not abuse
drugs later in life. However, our goal is to present students with
knowledge about the legal, social and health consequences of drug
abuse. If we can reach a number of students then the program will be
well worth the effort," said Cst. Francis.