D.A.R.E. graduates celebrate
May 31, 2012 3:08PM
Chelsea Intermediate School students recently graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. Pictured are (front, from left) Maggie Alexa, Dominick Canino and Erik Aschbrenner; (back) teacher Ryan Talaga. | Supplied Photo
Updated: July 6, 2012 8:41AM
Fifth-graders at Chelsea Intermediate School in Frankfort recently graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
Frankfort Chief of Police John Burica, commanders Kevin Keegan and Rob Krause, D.A.R.E. officers Don Walsh and Mike Pazera, Chelsea principal Kristin Simpkins, Chelsea assistant principal Dan Prorok and fifth-grade teachers were at the ceremony to congratulate the graduates.
The D.A.R.E. program originally began in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1983 as a combined effort of the police department and school district. For more than 20 years, District 157-C students have participated in the program, which helps students make good decisions by providing them with good alternatives.
At the ceremony, all graduates’ names were read, and each student was presented with a certificate of achievement and a T-shirt sponsored by the District 157-C Family School Partnership organization and the Frankfort Police Department.
Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland spoke before the audience watched a slide show of students participating in the D.A.R.E. program.
The following students were honored as classroom essay contest winners: Patrick O’Halloran, Nate Warning, Maddie Leiteritz, Emily Hasson, Zoe Randolph, Noah Schor, Aurora Abbott, Isabel Passarelli, Maggie Clarey, McKenzie Tallarita and Zachary Arseneau.
These students each were awarded a $50 gift certificate sponsored by the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce.
Following the graduation ceremony, the Frankfort Police Department sponsored a pizza party for the students.
Provided to the SouthtownStar
