Students from grade 6 at the Palmerston Public School recently graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program provided by county OPP officers.
The Palmerston Public School DARE graduation was held on June 10, and the Minto-Clifford School graduation was on June 24. Constable Bob Bortolato was the DARE officer for the schools.
This was the second year for the program at the schools and would not be possible without the support of the Minto Optimist Club.
It covers the cost of the workbooks and supplies as well as providing certificates and T-shirts to all graduating students. Visit the DARE website at http://www.dare.com.
DARE is a non-profit prevention program that started in 1983, in Los Angeles, and is now taught in over 43 countries.
It is a cooperative effort between police, the school, and the community. It gives students the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence.
Every year millions of children will benefit from it and over 36 million children world wide have completed the program.
DARE in Wellington County began in Erin in 2006 and is continually expanding in popularity. It is a collaborative effort between the county Police Services Board, the Wellington Catholic District School Board, the Upper Grand District School Board, the OPP and many local service clubs.
The program is offered to all grade 6 students. Currently there are four qualified DARE police officers in Wellington county active in over 26 schools and interacting with over 1,000 students annually.
The current program is ten weeks long and focuses on the effects of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants.
Students learn about refusal strategies, communication skills, friendships, peer pressure, decision making skills, and confidence.
