Fifth Graders Complete DARE Program

Top essayists honored during ceremony

A number of fifth grade students from the Carlsbad Municipal School system have graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in recent weeks.

Lead by members of the community and Carlsbad Police Department, students complete a series of activities, workbooks and guest lectures as part of the program. DARE promotes good communication with parents and other adults, encouraging kids to report any incidents of violence, drug or alcohol use, or any time they find drugs of any kind. Local leaders encourage students to choose friends wisely, to feel comfortable saying no, and to stay in school.

The program also promotes good decision-making and the development of critical thinking skills, pointing to heroes like local baseball star Cody Ross as an example of someone who makes good choices.

The DARE graduation program included honoring several students from each school for writing outstanding essays about the DARE program and their pledge to stay drug and violence free. Each graduating student was given a certificate commemorating the completion of the program.