Bloomsdale Elementary recently held its annual DARE Graduation, where fifth grade students celebrate completing a 10-week program taught by Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeff McCarty and Officer Jason Finch this year.
DARE is a nationally recognized program where local law enforcement officials introduce students to the dangers of alcohol and drugs through positive interaction. Over the weeks, the students focus on lessons covering a wide range of topics, including how to make safe and responsible choices, how to respond to peer pressure using resistant strategies, how to communicate effectively (both verbally and non-verbally), how to report bullying, and how to access help networks.
During the ceremony, the fifth grade students sang the DARE song and watched a video created to show the audience members their poster project summarizing what they had learned during the program. The students received certificates to mark their completion of the program.
Officer McCarty has taught the DARE program for the past 13 years. Officer Finch helped out this year, when Officer McCarty had to miss some portions of the program this year. Officer McCarty gave a speech thanking the students and their teachers for their support and sharing how he has enjoyed teaching this program over the years.
“We tried to put tools in your toolbox, and I hope you learned something—I know you did,” he said to the students. “I couldn’t do this by myself. I had the best job in the world, and I had the best department and community to back me up. That has made a big difference.”
He shared with the students that our wish for them is to be safe and to try to be responsible citizens and make good decisions, while we try to provide them with a safe community in which to grow up.
Congratulations to all of our fifth graders for graduating from the program!