D’iberville Middle School Students Graduate from the D.A.R.E Program
It’s still summer time but some dedicated D’iberville Middle School students graduated today. Eighty students successfully completed the school’s third annual D.A.R.E program.
Hannah Smith, a D.A.R.E. student, said, “I, Hannah Smith, will never do drugs forever and ever, as long as I live.” This is the pledge many D’iberville students took after completing the D.A.R.E program today. The week long program taught students, ages 6 to 12, about the importance of ‘just saying no.’ “We’re learning about all sorts of stuff. We’re learning about drugs, like alcohol, marijuana and tobacco,” said Hannah.
D.A.R.E., a nationally recognized program, touches on a variety of other topics as well. Danea Israel, D.A.R.E. staff member, said, “Anti-bully. What to do under peer pressure, things that middle school kids need to know.”
D’iberville Police presented 80 students with certificates and awards during today’s graduation ceremony. Proud parents and loved ones were on hand to take plenty of pictures to capture and remember the moment.
Police say that the D.A.R.E program is taught again throughout various grade levels to ensure effectiveness. “It is a constant thing,” said Rena Wiggins, a Harrison County patrolman, “We don’t just teach it at one age group. We start in kindergarten and we come back and we hit ‘em again at third grade and fifth grade and we’re hitting them again in junior high and high school. It is an ongoing line of communication you have to have with the kids.”
The program only lasted a week but D’iberville Police Chief Wayne Payne believes it will have a positive life-long impact. “Today, in our society, kids are present with so many things. And if we can make a difference in one child’s life, then we’ve accomplished what we wanted to do.”
After the ceremony, graduates cooled down with snow-cones and a water slide.
Hannah Smith, a D.A.R.E. student, said, “I, Hannah Smith, will never do drugs forever and ever, as long as I live.” This is the pledge many D’iberville students took after completing the D.A.R.E program today. The week long program taught students, ages 6 to 12, about the importance of ‘just saying no.’ “We’re learning about all sorts of stuff. We’re learning about drugs, like alcohol, marijuana and tobacco,” said Hannah.
D.A.R.E., a nationally recognized program, touches on a variety of other topics as well. Danea Israel, D.A.R.E. staff member, said, “Anti-bully. What to do under peer pressure, things that middle school kids need to know.”
D’iberville Police presented 80 students with certificates and awards during today’s graduation ceremony. Proud parents and loved ones were on hand to take plenty of pictures to capture and remember the moment.
Police say that the D.A.R.E program is taught again throughout various grade levels to ensure effectiveness. “It is a constant thing,” said Rena Wiggins, a Harrison County patrolman, “We don’t just teach it at one age group. We start in kindergarten and we come back and we hit ‘em again at third grade and fifth grade and we’re hitting them again in junior high and high school. It is an ongoing line of communication you have to have with the kids.”
The program only lasted a week but D’iberville Police Chief Wayne Payne believes it will have a positive life-long impact. “Today, in our society, kids are present with so many things. And if we can make a difference in one child’s life, then we’ve accomplished what we wanted to do.”
After the ceremony, graduates cooled down with snow-cones and a water slide.
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