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Canyon-Lister students participate in DARE program

This year, millions of school children around the world will benefit from DARE, the program that gives kids the skills they need...
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Canyon-Lister Elementary School teacher Judy Gadicke with her Grade 5/6 class and DARE instructor Const. Wally Bursey.

This year, millions of school children around the world will benefit from DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), the highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence.

DARE was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has proven so successful that it is now being implemented in 75 per cent of our nation’s school districts and in more than 43 countries around the world.

DARE is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through Grade 12 how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.

At Canyon-Lister Elementary School, our DARE police officer was Constable Wally Bursey. We appreciated his commitment to teaching us how to be safe. Here are a few of the speeches given by our 2012 Grade 5s during our DARE graduation:

 

In DARE, I have learned that drugs can be very bad for you, so the best thing is not to have anything to do with drugs, smoking and other things. I feel that DARE will help me later in life because we’re being taught about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. So when we’re older, we know about it and that it’s not good for you.

If you are in a bad situation like someone telling you to drink, smoke or do other bad things like that, then leave, make a lie or tell an adult so you can stay safe. A lot of people do drugs because they don’t know what’s in the drugs and when they find out they become addicted and it’s hard for them to quit.

It’s better if you have close friends that don’t drink, smoke or do drugs so then you don’t have to struggle just to say no because they’re not close. But it’s better if you don’t smoke at all.

With all the advice I will use the information and make wise decisions and stay safe because I know that smoking, drinking, tobacco other drugs are bad.

I pledge that I will not drink, smoke, chew tobacco or do any other drugs, especially if I’m told to do it by a friend.

— MAKAYLA WALTON

 

In DARE, I learned that if you drink or smoke or do other drugs, you could die, get sick or lose brain cells. DARE has taught me how to define, assess, respond and evaluate.

I know a person that does drugs, smokes and drinks. He does not eat or drink water hardly ever. It makes me sad to know that people do that stuff.

I am glad to know that there is a DARE program to set people on the right track including me.

I pledge I will never smoke or do drugs and will not drink underage or become an alcoholic.

— KYLA BLACKMORE

 

The DARE program gave us awareness of the effects and consequences of drugs, alcohol and smoking in our lives. It also taught us the skills to define, assess and respond wisely and solve problems.

We learned how to deal with peer pressure and how to choose your friends. We’ve learned many health effects of tobacco, marijuana and alcohol and their legality. It is important to know so that we stay away from these things that can destroy our brain, body, future and bring violence into our lives.

My parents already told me about the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drugs, but I really enjoy the examples on how to deal with peer pressure. We learned how to define and assess some peer pressure problems and opportunities related to drinking alcohol and smoking, which will make me more confident handling them in real life situations.

I commit that I will make wise decisions about drugs, alcohol and smoking.

— EMMA PENNER

 

I have learned that drugs, tobacco and alcohol are very bad for your body. The officer has helped me by telling me about the dangers of these things. DARE has helped me a lot. I really liked doing this program.

I have learned that drugs, tobacco and alcohol can lead to very bad diseases and issues. Some of the problems that can happen are addiction. Marijuana can affect your brain and body by short-term memory loss, the loss of ability to concentrate and slowing of co-ordination and reflexes. Alcohol can slow down the brain and body. Examples are poor judgment, memory lapses and slurred speech. This is important to know because I want to take care of my body and be healthy.

I do not want to smoke because it can affect your health and it smells. I am not going to try drugs, tobacco or drinking because it is unhealthy for anyone. It affects teenagers more because their bodies are still growing.

The DARE program has shown me that I can say no. I promise to never smoke, drink or do marijuana.

— MARLISE TESSMAN

 

In the DARE program, I learned how not to be pressured into things I don’t want to do. I know now that I make the choices. Just because the “cool kids” ask you to smoke or drink doesn’t mean you have to say yes.

There are a lot of kids that don’t do drugs either. It’s good to have some friends that aren’t into that stuff because it’s easier to say no to someone else.

I learned many skills that will help me when I get older. I know that I can say no to other people. I pledge to make wise decisions about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

— MEREDITH COTE