On December 1, Paulding County D.A.R.E. program held a D.A.R.E. graduation for Oakwood Elementary 5th graders. Graduation is a time for the students to think back on what they have learned in D.A.R.E. and time to reward the kids for completing the 12-week program. At the end of the program, each student writes an essay. Two essays are picked and the winners are announced during D.A.R.E. graduation. Deputy Mendez said the two essay winners this year were Emma Elkins and Ethan Warner. “Every fifth grader did an amazing job on their essays and it’s because of their essays, I know they are ready to make good choices,” say Deputy Mendez.
During the graduation ceremony, each kid received a certificate, a medal and a D.A.R.E. t-shirt for completing the program. Students also had a pizza party and played dodge ball.
Below are two essays written by DARE participants:
Hi today D.A.R.E. will be described. Can you guess what D.A.R.E. stands for each letter stands for something. I’ll give you time to think you know you’ve got the answer read the next sentence. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education or Define Assess Respond Evaluate. Did you get it? If so YAY!!!! Or if not try again next time. Now I’m going to describe my D.A.R.E. experience to you!
Hello! This will be my paragraph describing what I learned in D.A.R.E.. I learned how to use the D.D.M.M. which is making good decisions. Yet another thing I learned in D.A.R.E. is physical, verbal and cyber bullying which is picking on a kid day after day after day it’s not just like, “Say a kid wants to play a game at recess and the game is full up to player limit but you come back the next day and the player limit isn’t full so you can play.” That’s a wrap on my second paragraph.
Hello again! In this paragraph how I have used the D.D.M.M. will be shared. I’m going to give you 4 things alright? One situation was I was on the Internet just having fun and I found an account that was used for bad things like cyber bullying so I reported the account to the website. Another time I used the D.D.M.M. was when someone stole something from someone I know so I told on the thief for stealing. Now for almost the final D.D.M.M. situation that I’ve encountered was when people were talking in class which was making it distracting for many people including me. Now for the final D.D.M.M. situation was when a kid was getting bullied and I was an eyewitness that saw this and told on the bully as soon as possible. To sum it up, those were 4 D.D.M.M. situations.
You are probably getting tired of me saying hello so I’m just going to get right into the paragraph. This paragraph will be about how I will use the D.D.M.M. in the future. If a kid drops something I’m going to pick it up for him or her. If I see someone stealing or catch someone that is wanted by the police I’m going to turn the criminal in. If a kid is getting bullied in the future I’m going to tell on the bully and I know I’ve already told on a bully but if you see a bully bullying they should really stop because bullying is bad. If people are purposely embarrassing a kid to see the “Stress Signs” on the kid’s face I will definitely stick up for the kid.
To conclude, D.A.R.E. is a program that teaches you and other people to be responsible I’m positive that I’ve learned a lot from D.A.R.E. and now am more responsible than I used to be. ––––
D.A.R.E Report
“This has been an amazing experience,” Daisy says with excitement as she turns in her report. This is my D.A.R.E report,it will include things that I have learned, such as dealing with pressure or stress and occasionally bullying. I will tell you about how I plan to use the D.A.R.E Decision Making Model in the future and how I’ve already used it. Not only will I talk I talk about those strategies, but so many such as how I used them at home and not only in school, but in other places to.
I’m glad that I’ve had D.A.R.E this year and really sad I won’t have it next year. I’ve learned about a lot of things and here are just some of the things I’ve learned about. One thing I’ve learned about is the use of tobacco. The nicotine in tobacco is what keeps adults hooked on using it. Alcohol slows down the brain and body, although most teens don’t it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. The next thing I’ve learned is how to deal with stress. Stress can be dangerous if you or anyone else express it in the wrong way. There are more than one way to deal with stress. Another thing I’ve learned on D.A.R.E is how to deal with pressure and pure pressure. Pressure and pure pressure are much alike, yet totally different. Pressure is when someone like your older brother is trying to get you to do something. Pure pressure is if someone like your friend is trying to get you to do something. Officer Mendez showed us an example by trying to convince one of my classmates to do something. My last thing I learned about was….Bullying. I know for a known fact that probably every school has at least some type of bullying in them. First, you need to think “Is this person really bullying another person” (person thought). Next, ask yourself “Am I tattling” (also person thought) if not please tell a trusted adult, so that they can deal with the situation.
I’ve used the D.A.R.E Decision Making Model a lot since I’ve had D.A.R.E. One effect of using D.D.M.M is my choices are more clearer when I make them. Next effect of using D.D.M.M is the outcome is really good I don’t have to look back thinking that I made a mistake. Another effect of using D.D.M.M is I make sure to tell a trusted adult if something has happened or someone is bothering me. Last effect of using D.D.M.M is I listen better to my parent and other trusted adults, and I act better around my friends and family.
As I get older I will have to dodge many obstacles and roadblocks in my way thru middle school, high school, and all the way thru college. That’s why I’m going to promise Mr.Mendez that first “I will not drink alcohol or use drugs and tobacco” (This was own private thought no one has encouraged her to use these idea’s.) Next, “I will make sure to deal with stress, pressure and pure pressure, also bullying the right way. That’s by telling a trusted adult.” Then, “As I got older more drama will appear in my life, in schools and other places. I will make sure to walk away and not try to make the argument worse and hopefully it can be worked out by those people who started it in the first place. I will admit that I have bullied others, but I’ve been bullied by those people to, and they bullied me right back. I was not happy at all, but I guess I kind of deserved it.”
Like what Daisy said “This has been an amazing experience.” I will use all of the knowledge I’ve learned and use it to try to help others.I will also use this to help guide me and my 3 younger sisters who look up to me and are watching my every move. I want to say “Thank You!!!!” I’m glad when you would come into our classroom you always had a positive attitude. I never once saw you roll your eyes and think “Not this CRAZY class again” (if you did you’re a very good actor!) ThankYou! ––––
