ROSENEATH - DARE GRADUATES TAKE A STAND AGAINST DRUGS

The children of Roseneath Centennial Public School played host to their
friends from Hastings Public School for a special joint graduation ceremony
held on February 23. The two schools were celebrating the latest crop of
kids to learn all about saying no to drugs as part of the Northumberland
OPP's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) classes. The DARE graduates
presented short plays on the behaviour and possible consequences associated
with illicit drugs and alcohol use, and the top three essay competition
winners from each school read their work to those assembled. The theme for
the evening was for kids to "Take a Stand" against the pressures around
them to get involved in drug use and drinking, and they let their parents
know that they've got the message loud and clear.

Northumberland OPP Constable Andrea Pewtner and Sergeant Brian Blimkie were
on hand to explain the value of what the kids were learning in protecting
themselves, their friends and families, and their communities from drug
abuse. The DARE program in our schools in intended to decrease the presence
of drug use in our area. Drugs are seen as one of the major causes of crime
in Trent Hills and Alnwick/Haldimand, leading to break and enters, property
thefts and mischief offences. Drugs are socially undesirable in all
communities and drug use can potentially harm our children, either through
direct health effects or in incidents such as drinking and driving accidents.

Graduates from Hastings are Kayla Beamish, Chrissy Densmore, Hunter Haig,
Felisha Hunter, Mathew Langer, Carla McIlmoyle, Dylan Mead, Zack Prentice
and Jordon Wickham. The top three spots in the "Take a Stand" essay
competition were taken by Kayla Beamish, Carla McIlmoyle, and Hunter Haig.

Roseneath's graduates are Michael Anthony, Garth Bridgman, Conner Brown,
Robyn Clay, Keirstyn Cook, Stephanie Dawe, Kailee Dupuis, Braydon Halsey,
Michael Hogg, Troy Lean, Allen McKendrick, Brittany Miller, Jared Nicholls,
Jesse Peterson, Cassandra Robertson, Dakota Simpson, Cree Trapper, Ashlee
Victor and Travis Webb. The top three spots in the "Take a Stand" essay
competition were taken by Michael Hogg, Jared Nicholls and Troy Lean.