Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington joined Bossier Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. officers and school leadership at Bossier Elementary School to congratulate the school’s 5th graders as they participated in a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program graduation ceremony last week.
Led by D.A.R.E. officer Deputy Austin Mueller, the graduates will join a total 1,272 students who will graduate from D.A.R.E. at 12 elementary schools in Bossier Parish this fall semester. Each elementary school has its own school resource officer who also serves as the D.A.R.E. instructor.
Bossier Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. officers know they have their hands full in teaching 5th graders how to make wise life decisions as they move into middle school and face increased peer pressure. The deputies don’t sugarcoat the facts and ensure the children are as best prepared to deal with such things as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and bullying, and emphasize the importance of being responsible for their actions.
Here are the D.A.R.E. graduations that took place this semester:
- Plantation Park Elementary Dec. 6
- Apollo Elementary Dec. 7
- Stockwell Place Elementary Dec. 7
- Benton Elementary Dec. 12
- Central Park Elementary Dec. 12
- Plain Dealing Elementary Dec. 14
- Kingston Elementary Dec. 17
- Meadowview Elementary Dec. 17
- Legacy Elementary Dec. 18
- Princeton Elementary Dec. 19
- Kerr Elementary Dec. 20
The D.A.R.E program is a semester-long curriculum taught by Sheriff’s deputies that emphasizes good decision skills for young people to avoid bullying, drugs, violence and other harmful behaviors. Students are also taught confidence-building and coping skills.
Deputies teach the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model: D – Define: Describe the problem, challenge or opportunity. A – Assess: What are your choices? R – Respond: Make a choice. Use the facts and information you have gathered. E – Evaluate: Review your decision.
