D.A.R.E. Day Marks Completion of Fifth Grade

As the school year closes, Auten Road’s annual D.A.R.E. celebration Friday marked a transition to the responsibilities the fifth-graders will have next year.

This year, the students celebrated completing the program with a free barbecue lunch, provided by the Home and School Association, receiving their D.A.R.E. completion certificates and by playing the school’s D.A.R.E. song over the school loud speaker, school Principal Chris Carey said.

In addition, the school’s morning announcements expressed congratulations for the students and included a message about the leadership roles students will take next year, he added.

“It’s still exciting for them for being something to join in with all their peers,” Carey said. “It’s very hot outside so I think it’s a little better that it’s inside this year.”

The day marked a change from prior years’ D.A.R.E. graduation activities, a result of the police layoffs in May.

The students receive the D.A.R.E. lessons over an about two-week period during their health classes. Officers Jay Beverett and Ted Lewis teach the D.A.R.E. classes, which focus on peer pressure, substance abuse and decision-making skills.

“It’s an opportunity for them to connect with a Hillsborough Township Police Officer,” Carey said.

Several of the lessons quickly became students’ favorites, particularly some of the substance abuse lessons.

“I like doing the [beer] goggles,” Kimberly Schlingloff said. “It makes you dizzy and you don’t feel like yourself. It makes everything look weird. ... I would never want to do it.”

“It makes you feel like your vision is all bad,” Nicole Sacca agreed.

For other students, the peer pressure lessons had a more significant impact.

“You get to see how it feels and why you would not want to feel that,” Bianca Suarez said.”

The lessons also emphasized why drugs are bad and the consequences, the students agreed.

“It’s really hard to stop doing drugs and smoking is really bad for your body,” Kimberly said.

“I learned a lot more about drugs and how it can affect you,” Nicole said. “You know what is bad about them. When you are little you just know it’s bad.”

During the DARE program, students also write an essay on the lessons they’ve learned and have an opportunity to enter poster design contest. The winning designs for the poster contest are submitted to the county prosecutor’s office for consideration in its annual calendar.

Poster award winners include Adele Kong, Sydney Ciccarelli, Sam Harding, Melissa Sun, Lauren Hasse, Amie Moore, and Vishakha Agarwal.

Essay award winners include Catherine Korsun, Melissa Sun, and Patrick Vinchar.

 “I know they are going to keep these lessons and make good life decisions that are going to make their families proud,” Carey said. “I’m very proud of the students for completing the program and for giving the officers the time and respect they deserve.”