DARE PARTICIPANTS GRADUATE

A total of 114 Grade 6 students completed the DARE program on June
1.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is a cooperative project
between the police and school to encourage students to resist drugs
and make healthy choices.

The program consists of 10 lessons and each student must actively
participate in the lessons, complete their workbook and write an essay
to be eligible to graduate.

The essays written by the students summarized what they learned during
the program and their commitment to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
Topics covered were the health effects of tobacco, alcohol, and
marijuana, peer pressure, advertising,friendships and positive
activities thatdo not involve drugs or alcohol.

Dare officer Cst. Nicole Sansregret is proud of the students who
participated in the program.

The program was concluded with a graduation ceremony at the Summerland
Middle School.

Guests included Sgt. Rick Bigland of the Summerland RCMP,
Superintendent Gary Doi from the Okanagan Skaha School District,
school board chair Connie Denesiuk, Jody Meyer from Pathways
Addictions Services, Don DeGagne from the municipality, and middle
school principal Katie Hicks.