DARE PROGRAM BEING TAUGHT FOR FIRST TIME IN SIOUX LOOKOUT

AS they walk out of the mini-mart, Luis tells Kevin that he thought
the cheap smokes ads in the store were kind of cool. Luis says that
he has tried smoking and suggests they go try a cigarette. Kevin
remembers how difficult it was for his mom to quit smoking. He is
trying to decide what to do.

This was an example in students' workbooks which they, in groups, had
to respond to using knowledge and special rules learned through the
Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (DARE) as if they were Kevin.

On Thursday Sioux Lookout OPP Community Services Officer Mark Gaudet
was at Sacred Heart DARE program being taught for first time in Sioux
LookoutSchool conducting the third session in the DARE program with
Grade 6 students.

Gaudet conducts the program at Sacred Heart School on Thursdays and
at Sioux Mountain Public School on Wednesdays.

As there is only one Grade 6 student at Hudson Public School Gaudet
said he plans to involve that student in the program next year.

After greeting his class, Gaudet answered questions from a DARE box,
a box in which students can write him with questions or comments,
from which he selects a few to answer at the beginning of each session.

Students then received course supplies and cheered when Gaudet
produced a toy version of the program's mascot DAREN the lion.

Students learned about tobacco then broke into groups to address the
situation from their workbooks in which they had placed themselves in
Kevin's shoes.

The session concluded with students filling in an entry in their
workbook about what they had learned about tobacco.

The DARE program is a structured 10-session course which teaches them
about things such as tobacco, drugs, alcohol and peer pressure and
the consequences such things can have.

The course gives them the skill set necessary to make smart
decisions.At the end of session nine students write an essay about
what they learned through the program.

Following that is a DARE graduation ceremony, which families of the
students can attend.

Grade 6 teacher Kristi Hildebrand commented, "I think that educating
these kids now before they're going to get to an age when they're
into that kind of thing is really important. If we can prevent them
from starting it will be worth it in the end."

She also thinks Gaudet is just the man to pass along such important
information to her class.

"He's really good with the kids. They respond really well to him.
He's a great presenter so it's awesome having him in the classroom.

"Delaney Kakekayskung, a Grade 6 student from Gaudet is just the man
to pass along such informationHildebrand's class also thinks Gaudet
is a good teacher.

"I think it's important for him to come here so we can learn not to
smoke or do drugs so we can have a better life.

"Mitchell Tarrant, a Grade 6 student from Mrs. Blackmon's Grade 5/6
class commented, "I think it's giving me a lot of information and
that smoking and drinking and doing drugs are really bad.

"He said the DARE program is a lot of fun to take, but also thinks it
is important for people his age to learn about things such as drugs,
alcohol and peer pressure so they will make good decisions when
confronted with such things.

Gaudet said students are responding well to the program, as evidenced
by the fact that when he asked questions in class every hand went up to answer.

He said the program is superior to the old Values, Influences and
Peers (VIP) program he taught in Sioux Lookout in the past because
the DARE program is so structured and stays current.

He said it's important to conduct the DARE program with Grade 6
students because they are at a pivotal point in their lives.

If enough funds are available Gaudet would like to get further
training to teach the program to Grade 10 students and have another
officer trained to teach Grade 3 students.

He added that it's great the community is behind him, supporting the
program, but added that any additional support would be greatly appreciat