Education

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Enthusiastic Northport students take the D.A.R.E.

Chief Dan Rivett (far left) and D.A.R.E. officer Chris Coles with 'Darren' front and centre

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is more than teaching young elementary students about the dangers of drug abuse.  It is about teaching them life skills when it comes to making good choices.

Grade 5 students at Northport Public School learned through role playing on Thursday (Jan. 26) that saying "no" can sometimes be a difficult choice, particularly, when peer pressure is involved.

Constable Chris Coles and mascot 'Darren' lead the students through a variety of scenarios where they had to makes the 'right' choices.

"This is an excellent teaching method," said Coles.  "Getting the students involved in acting out different scenarios that they may possible encounter and how to react to them, makes a huge impact."

The D.A.R.E. program originally began in secondary schools but has since moved into elementary grades.

(L-R) Jack Kozelenko, Jared Meyer, Sarah Sollors, Eve Martin & Jamie Miller

"This was awesome," said student Sarah Sollors.  "We really learned a lot," added Eve Martin.  "We have to prepare a one-page report on D.A.R.E. for tomorrow, Jack Kozelenko pointed out, "and then we graduate from D.A.R.E. with a pledge to think carefully about things in the future."

"By reaching students when they are young and impressionable," added Chief Dan Rivett, "it creates an opportunity to impact how they'll respond when they get to high school and the peer pressure really begins to set in, so that they'll have the tools to make those right choices."

Chief Dan Rivett autographs Dan Policicchao's D.A.R.E. report

The D.A.R.E. program will be conducted in all elementary schools in Saugeen Shores by the local police service and Coles added that there are two more officers who are about to take the highly specialized training.

It was all 'thumbs up' for these students!

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Friday, January 27, 2012