WASHINGTON FIFTH GRADERS GRADUATE FROM D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

Washington Elementary fifth graders graduated from the Drug, Abuse,
Resistance, Education (D.A.R.E.) Program last Thursday.

School Resource Officer JoAnn Padia, of the Lamar Police Department,
presented the 46 graduates with a certificate, bumper sticker and
t-shirt for their accomplishment of completing the nine week program
with the assistance of LPD Chief Rick Copess and Captain Ron Trowbridge.

Padia spoke to the audience telling them that the most important key
to the D.A.R.E. program was the parents and encouraged them to know
where their kids are, and who their friends are.

At the end of the program each student had to complete an essay. First
and second place essays were then selected. Those four students
recognized were first place Kala Andrews in Mr. Gittings' class and
Jonathin Godinez in Ms. O'Bryan's class. Second place essay winners
were Jacob Reed in Mr. Gittings' class and Deborah DiBiasio in Ms.
O'Bryan's class. The essay winners then read their essays to the
audience.Two students were also recognized as the most active
participants. Aurelio Salas received the most active participant in
Mr. Gittings' class and Lindsay Melonas in Ms. O'Bryan's class. Those
with the winning essays and most active participant received a
D.A.R.E. bag with goodies in it as well.

The D.A.R.E. program teaches students the facts and effects of
tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Through the D.A.R.E. decision making model
the students also learn how to avoid situation, what a good friend is,
about personal pressure, peer pressure, and tools to help them make
good choices, according to Officer Padia. The students also
participate in role play situation where they were came up with
situations and had to decide what the right decision to make was to
get out of the situations they were in. In addition the students also
had to complete workbooks.