KENT STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM D.A.R.E COURSE

Kent school has graduated 55 grade six students from the Drug and Alcohol
Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

The ten-week program is designed to teach children about the consequences
of drug, alcohol and tobacco use, and how they can resist the pressures
applied by peers and media influences.

Agassiz RCMP Cst. Cris Wortman is trained to teach D.A.R.E., which is
currently provided to children in grades five and six throughout the school
district.

Cst. Wortman calls D.A.R.E. a strong initiative that is definitely having
an impact on the young students.

"It has to happen in this day and age," he says of the program. "We have to
start educating these kids."

The D.A.R.E. lessons include making proper choices, the harmful affects of
alcohol, drugs and tobacco, peer pressure and risky behaviour.

D.A.R.E. students are also required to write essays that outline their
personal committments to staying free of these substances.

During the graduation ceremony, held at Kent school on Feb. 25, the kids
also performed skits in front of parents, grandparents and invited local
dignitaries, including Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger.

Also on hand were representatives of the local Lions Club, which is the
number one contributor of program funds.

Kent's grade five students will begin the program this week, and Chehalis
D.A.R.E. students will have their grad ceremony on Friday.