Nikole Babb, nbabb@cherryroad.com
On Friday, November 22, 119 fifth grade students graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, (D.A.R.E), program at El Dorado Public Schools USD 490.
Each year students across the country participate in the D.A.R.E program, which is 10 weeks long and educates children on how to resist drugs and encourages them not to use when temptation arises as well as coping mechanisms needed when peer pressure knocks on their door. The program also includes social emotional lessons to avoid negative behaviors and how to help others if they witness a friend or a loved one using drugs.
The program is often taught by the county sheriff’s office but more recently, due to budget restraints, has been picked up the School Resource Officers, (SRO), if needed. USD 490 SRO Jason Lowery has taught the D.A.R.E program since he was hired in 2021.
At the end of the program, students are required to write an essay over the D.A.R.E program and decision making model. One winner and two runner-ups are selected from each school every year. The winners received a pink that says “DARE Essay Contest Winner” along with a certificate to be redeemed in the book vending machines installed in each elementary school. This year, the following winners from each school were:
Blackmore
Winner: Macy Darling
Runners-up: Teagan Mathias and Shiya Vance.
Grandview
Winner: Ellen Cornett
Runners-up: Case Rickard and Annabelle Todd.
Skelly
Winner: Talia Dickerson
Runners-up: Trinity Shelefontiuk and Griffin Barlow.
To conclude the graduation ceremony, all students were called by name to receive their certificate of program completion, a pencil from SRO Lowery, and to fist bump Superintendent Jenifer Davis, USD 490 Police Chief Tyson Nielsen, El Dorado Police Chief Michael Holton, State D.A.R.E. Coordinator Randy Combs, Blackmore Principal Anita Arnold, Grandview Principal Midgley Simmons, and Skelly Principal Heath Henderson.
The fight and education on drugs starts from a young age. This is integral in making a difference in each community. We are El Dorado proud.
