CHILDREN EMBRACE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE

TEMECULA - Yelling and cheering, a sea of children struggled to get a
better view as Sita the dog frantically circled and attacked a
knapsack Friday.

Amid trees, fences and pillars draped with red ribbons, more than
1,000 students at Vintage Hills Elementary School grabbed a carpet
square and hunkered down on the wet asphalt to celebrate a culmination
of activities they participated in during Red Ribbon Week.

"Kids are our future," said Sabrina Ruprich, PTA member and
coordinator of the districtwide celebration. "We need to make a
difference in their lives now."

Jumping around excitedly, Sita, a Belgium Malinois, pulled at her
tether as California Highway Patrol Officer Mark VonVoigt explained
his partner's job.

"Do you guys like the smell of cookies?" he asked the exuberant young
crowd. "Well, Sita loves the smell of drugs as much as you love the
smell of cookies."

Giving her a quick command, VonVoigt led her to different knapsacks
that she smelled and discarded before pouncing on one - causing an
uproar from the young crowd, who cheered her efforts.

VonVoigt said he and Sita recently graduated from the academy in July
and have been on the road ever since. VonVoigt said demonstrating his
dog's talents to the young students helps to make an impression on
them.

"They are prime. It's important for them to learn this at a young
age," he said. "When we get them against drugs at a young age, it'll
be easier for them to reject drugs when they're older."

Ron Thatcher, public affairs officer for the California Highway Patrol
in Temecula, said they arrested 1,400 people driving under the
influence last year. Additionally, about 20 percent of last year's
fatalities were caused by driving under the influence.

"I have a son who goes to this school," Thatcher said. "Every year, I
come here to get the word out and promote the pledge to say no. A lot
of the kids see drug abuse at home from their older siblings or their
parents. So we need to teach them at an early age to say no and walk
away."

Principal Jona Hazlett said commercials and television also influence
children's perception of right and wrong.

"They are exposed to so many things," Hazlett said, watching the
students receive awards for a poster contest. "It's so important to
build a strong foundation so they can make intelligent decisions."

Teacher Colleen Smith took this to heart and readied her class for
Friday's assembly by helping them to memorize a pledge they presented
to the crowd.

"Everyone was really excited," she said. "We voted, and it was
unanimous that we present the pledge."

Bryson Enalen, 9, said he thought it was "fun" to memorize the
pledge.

Memorizing it held another meaning for Mikael Davis, 9.

"It made me feel responsible," he said. "And gave me a lot of
courage."

Taking 10 minutes every day to recite the pledge seemed to have a
profound effect on the children who vowed to "make my dreams come true
be all that I can be ... and be drug free."

"It made me feel important," said Brittany Rey-nolds, 9.

"It means not to do drugs - it's not OK."