DARE GRADUATES LEARN SIMPLE MESSAGE - BE TRUE TO YOURSELF

Halton's DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program certainly
gives students a lot to think about, and in turn those same pupils are
giving something back. At Wednesday's joint graduation ceremony for
four Grade 6 classes from Mother Teresa and St. Joan of Arc Schools,
part of the celebratory mood was due the amount of money raised at
recent walkathons to help keep the program going.

St. Joan of Arc, which hosted the graduation, tallied up $4,500 from
their event while Mother Teresa turned over $2,800 to DARE.

"That's awesome," said DARE Officer Wendy Moraghan, who emceed
Wednesday's ceremony and teaches the program at both schools. "The
program is in jeopardy as it is, so the support is
appreciated."

DARE - which is presented to 6,000 Grade 6 students from both school
boards in Halton each year - provides young people with the
self-esteem and willpower to refuse offers of drugs and alcohol,
options how to deal with the stress of peer pressure and the means to
solve problems without resorting to violence.

"If I reach five or six students in each class I've done my job," said
Const. Moraghan.

For that reason, explained St. Joan of Arc Grade 6 teacher Alexandra
Fairfield, it was her school's pleasure to host its October walkathon
in which the entire student body from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8
took part.

DARE - which originated in Los Angeles in 1983 and started six years
later in Halton - is about more than not doing drugs, says Const.
Moraghan, but also developing decision-making skills that will help
students throughout their lives.

"The kids have really worked hard over the last 10 weeks," she said.
"I'm really proud of them."

Const. Gary Gold, a former DARE and High School Liaison Officer,
promised the pupils that everything they've absorbed from the program
will come into play in secondary school.

"The most important thing is that you be true to yourself and work on
your self-esteem," he told the young crowd. "Surround yourself with
good friends."

To underscore the necessity of continued vigilance, Const. Gold
explained that he once had to arrest a DARE graduate he once taught.

"Be true to yourself," Mother Teresa vice-principal Michelle Braida
told the students.

Const. Moraghan - who has taught DARE for four years, has seen two of
her own children pass through the program and has an 11-year old
stepson about take part - explained that DARE is also good for
building a lasting rapport between students and the police.

"I'm very proud to be a DARE officer," she said.

Const. Gold echoed that sentiment and reminded the students they can
always count on Const. Moraghan.

"I hope you'll remember your DARE officer and all the things she
taught you," he said.

As for all the money raised, Const. Moraghan formally thanked the
assembled students.

"I appreciate all the support we've received from the walkathons," she
said.

A student from each of the four classes (Alana Boyczuk, Laurie Manes,
Corey Windlinger, and Daniel Pickett) then read their essays, which
are part of the program, then all the pupils received a graduation
certificate from Const. Gold, a medal around their neck from Const.
Moraghan and congratulations from school staff.