Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

DARE-drug-awareness

Full Text:

DARE Program To Honor Another `Graduating' Class

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Approximately 300 fifth-graders from local public schools were scheduled to

participate in culmination ceremonies for the DARE program on Thursday,

February 29, at Newtown High School, after the deadline for this edition of

The Bee.

The ceremonies mark the students' completion of the 17-week DARE program

designed to train them how to avoid substance abuse and to avoid using

violence as a way to settle disagreements.

This is the sixth year that local police have conducted the DARE (Drug Abuse

Resistance Education) program in cooperation with the public schools. Students

at St Rose School, a parochial school, also receive the DARE training and have

separate culmination exercises.

Youth Officer Mike Kehoe, School Resource Officer Joe Rios, Detective Robert

Tvardzik, and Officer George Sinko provide the DARE training to sudents at

Middle Gate School, Head O' Meadow School, Sandy Hook School, and Hawley

School.

Fifth graders in each of the four public schools receive the same DARE

training each week during the 17-week the program. The instructional sessions

include: an introduction to the concepts of DARE; understanding the effects of

mind-altering drugs; considering the consequences of one's actions; changing

beliefs about drug usage; learning the techniques to resist peer group

pressure to use drugs; building self-esteem; assertiveness training; managing

stress without drug usage; reducing violence; combating media influences on

drug use and violence; making decisions about risky behavior; taking positive

alternatives to drug use; having positive role models; resisting gangs and

negative group behavior; a recapitulation of the program; learning to "take a

stand" to avoid substance abuse, and preparation for the culmination

ceremonies.

At the culmination ceremonies, students receive certificates of achievement

recognizing their completion of the DARE program. Selected students present

their "Taking A Stand" term papers before an audience of their families,

friends and local officials.

As well as the 17 weekly DARE sessions for fifth graders, the police conduct a

course reinforcing the tenets of the DARE program for seventh grade and eight

grade students at Newtown Middle School. That program lasts 10 weeks.

By the time they reach the seventh grade, students have become more

knowledgeable than they were in fifth grade, and thus the course is adjusted

for their grade level, Officer Rios said. Seventh graders are at a "decision

making stage" and are experiencing peer group pressure, he said.

Det Tvardzik said the police are in the second year of a revised DARE program

which includes training students there are alternatives to violence to resolve

conflicts.

Officer Rios said the DARE training allows the police into student classrooms,

letting them "reach out" to the children and provide positive role models for

them.