Kearsarge Regional Elementary School Graduates 2009 D.A.R.E. Class
On June 09, 2009 thirty-eight students from the fifth grade at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School (KRES) successfully completed and graduated from the D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The program, a 10-week long curriculum, started on March 3rd and was instructed by Officer Edward Shaughnessy of the Bradford Police Department. Officer Shaughnessy attended the D.A.R.E. instructor training for two weeks in September of 2008 and was certified to teach D.A.R.E. to the students who attend KRES.
For those readers who are familiar with the D.A.R.E. program, you know what a major role the lessons learned in D.A.R.E. can have in a child’s life. For those of you who are not familiar, this is why D.A.R.E. is important.
Kids today grow up in a very complex and confusing world. Through music, movies, television, and, most of all, peers, kid are exposed to drugs, alcohol and tobacco at a very early age. D.A.R.E. teaches our children not just to refuse drugs, but how to do it. There are separate lessons for each grade level, from Kindergarten to High School, geared toward the student’s age and maturity. The D.A.R.E. program gives our children the tools they need to resist drugs and make correct, healthy choices. The D.A.R.E. program does this by sending a trained Police Officer into the classroom to teach students different ways to avoid using drugs and alcohol. Students are also taught the many health effects of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These are our kids, from our community, and we want their futures to be bright, healthy, safe and secure.
During the 10 week curricula lessons were taught on the health effects of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs, Peer Pressure (good and bad), Ways to avoid risky situations, Ways to get out of bad situations, and Advertisements. Students did a lot of role playing activities to use what they learned throughout the lessons to make better choices. Students also attended a Manchester Monarchs hockey game at the Verizon Wireless Arena that was sponsored by the State D.A.R.E. program and the Monarchs. Part of the lesson plan for Week 9 was for students to create a D.A.R.E report. The report, in the form of an essay, shadow box or poster, was to explain what the students learned in D.A.R.E. and why it was important to them. Three winners were chosen from Mrs. Perkin’s class and three winners were chosen from Mrs. Lee’s class. The third place winners received a DAREN stuffed animal, the D.A.R.E. mascot who was a hit with the students all year long. The second place winners received a $20 check and the first place winners received a $30 check and a D.A.R.E. essay contest winner pin.
Officer Shaughnessy and the Bradford Police Department would like to thank Principal Spadaro, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Perkins for allowing time in their lesson plans for the D.A.R.E. program. They would also like to thank all the members of St. Peters Lodge #31 Masonic A in Bradford for hosting the D.A.R.E. breakfast on May 31st. The breakfast raised funds that will aid in the continuation of the D.A.R.E. program, not only in Bradford, but also in Warner, Sutton, New London, Wilmot and Springfield.
Caption for photo
(From left to right)
1st place winners Jessica Baldasaro and David “DJ” Smith, 2nd place winners
Samantha Dow and Kaileigh Davis and third place winners Dawson Curry and Devin Taves.