KINETTES GIVE TO D.A.R.E.

Cheryl Macahonic, representing the Kinettes, presented Jackie Muzechka and
Vizma Bell, grade 6 teachers at St. Martin's school with a cheque for $150
to go toward the grade 6 D.A.R.E. program. Student representatives Regan
Billingsley, Candace Lackie, Samantha Morris, and Tyler Tschirren were
on-hand to join in the photo opportunity.

According to the RCMP website, D.A.R.E. is "a comprehensive prevention
education program designed to equip school children with skills to
recognize and resist social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol,
other drugs and violence. This unique program utilizes uniformed law
enforcement officers to teach a formal curriculum to students in a
classroom setting. D.A.R.E. gives special attention to fifth and sixth
grade students to prepare them for entry into intermediate & high school,
where they are most likely to encounter pressure to use drugs." The Program
curriculum was developed by educators and is taught by trained officers. It
focuses on responsibility and resisting peer pressure. The implementation
of the program is a community decision and there are elementary, middle,
high school, after-school, and parental components. Training is mandatory
for all instructors before they enter the classroom.

In Vegreville, Cst. Jeff Woodliffe teaches the D.A.R.E. program to grade 6
students. It is a 14 day program and in St. Martin's school, 50 grade 6
students were involved. They held a graduation on March 27 to celebrate
their successful completion of the program.