DARE-ING TO BE DRUG-FREE

Beausejour Review -- Forty Ecole Dugald Grade 6 students are a little
more street smart thanks to Cst. Roseanne Ross.

They also have the certificate and t-shirt from the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program to back it up.

The 10-week program teaches Grade 6 students about the consequences of
drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and how to avoid the peer pressures to
use the substances.

"DARE teaches us how to say no. I learned a lot about the
consequences...I want to be drug free because I want to live a long
and happy life," Gerard Desorcy said.

Desorcy was one of four Grade 6 DARE essay finalists selected to read
part of his essay in front of parents, teachers, and students gathered
in the school gym.

"DARE teaches us how to resist drugs. We now know eight ways to say no
to drugs," Caitlyn Stevens said.

Joel Schreyer and Nicolas Speer also read from their
essays.

The DARE program began in 1983 in Los Angeles when the school division
and police force noticed more and more youth getting involved with
drugs in the American city. Their partnership brought about the program.

The success of DARE has now spread to over 92 countries that all use
the program to help arm students with social skills to get out of
harmful situations.

"I think it's excellent. Cst. Ross shared lots of personal experience
from her job on the consequences of drugs. Coming from the police they
can speak on authority about it. It wouldn't be the same coming from
us," Grade 6 teacher Simone St. Pierre said.

The Oakbank RCMP officer was praised by all the staff involved with
the program.

"The kids looked forward to it...They did role playing, activity books
and Cst. Ross had to go to businesses in the community to raise the
funds to supply the books for the kids. We're very grateful for that,"
teacher Patty Kavanagh said. "It's the third year in row (having the
program at Ecole Dugald School) and we hope it continues."

Ross, who was at the school March 9 for the DARE graduation, said
parents have let her know how much they appreciate the program.

"(The students) don't always tell me they enjoyed DARE and are glad to
have taken it. I hear from the parents that their son or daughter just
loves it and talks about it a lot and is excited to be in it. And the
parents are glad their kids are taking it," Ross said. "Yet other
(students) will say they like it. I like working with them. I have a
good rapport with the students. "