Fifth grade students at PUE graduated from the D.A.R.E. program on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.  D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.  Students participated in many lessons concerning healthy life choices.  They learned how to apply the “DARE Decision Making Model” when feeling pressured to do anything that they now know are unhealthy and dangerous.  This model has four steps:  Define the situation you are in, Assess your choices, Respond by taking a stand, and Evaluate the outcome.  Every fifth grader was required to write an essay about what they learned in the D.A.R.E. Program.  The Honorable Hal Kittrell, 15^th Judicial District Attorney, was the keynote speaker.  Many other law enforcement officers attended the graduation and challenged the students to make healthy decisions for the remainder of their lives.

 

Back – Capt. James Steinkamp, Poplarville Police; Capt. Rossie Creel, Poplarville Police; Deputy Ismael Quiroz, Pearl River County Sheriff Dept. DARE Officer; Officer Al Tynes, Poplarville Police DARE Officer; Hon. Hal Kittrell, 15^th Judicial District Attorney; Chief Charlie Fazende, Poplarville Police Chief

 

Front – Essay Winners Dylan R., Dalton S., Overall Essay Winner Kaitlen S., Kelsey D., Lauren L., Justin L., Chyanne B.