STUDENTS VOW TO SAY 'NO'

Moore Sixth-Graders Complete 12-Week D.A.R.E. Program.

MOORE TWP. - Robert "Officer Bob" Peloquin stood on the small stage
Monday at Moore Elementary School and applauded 76 sixth-graders
graduating from a 12-week Drug Awareness and Resistance Education
program.

Peloquin placed both hands on the thin podium, leaned over the
microphone and explained to the students, their teachers and families
why, after 12 years and handing out more than 1,200 diplomas, he's
still a D.A.R.E. educator. "You need to do more with students then
just tell them no," he said.

According to Northampton School District Superintendent Linda
Firestone, the sixth-graders face challenges, temptations, and peer
pressure in the years ahead.

"You have to help us make this a safer place," Firestone said, citing
nine expulsions in the past seven weeks at Northampton High School
related to drug and/or alcohol use.

The sixth graders wore black T-shirts printed with the D.A.R.E. logo
as they listened to numerous guest speakers.

John Morganelli, Northampton County district attorney, said he had to
prepare for a murder trial starting Monday afternoon.

"You know why that person was murdered?" Morganelli asked. "Because
of drugs."

Morganelli implored the students to remember the lessons Peloquin
taught them, to keep saying no and to help others avoid poor choices.

"We want all of you on our side," Morganelli said. "I want you on our
team."

The final guest speaker, Dr. Jack Chambers from St. Luke's Hospital,
reminded students that many people never make it to jail. He pointed
back to the 40-minute lecture he gave about the severe physical
consequences of using drugs and alcohol.

"I hope you remember some of the things I showed you," Chambers said.
"If you don't want that (to happen to you), it is as easy as saying,
'No.'"

Four students, honored for writing the best essays in their
respective classrooms, spoke about what they learned and how they
hope to stay away from tobacco, drugs and alcohol.

Josh Ryan, Brad Stackhouse, Olivia Bush and Rachel Becker rattled off
statistics, cited ways to dodge peer pressure and vowed to stay out
of trouble.

Bush described refusing drugs by saying, "No," over and over like a
broken CD. Bush said to get out of a bad situation use humor, change
the subject or walk away. Stackhouse promised not to use illegal drugs.

"Remember," Becker said to her classmates. "You are saying no to (a
friend's offer of drugs or alcohol), not to their friendship."