By Sarah Greil

TOMAHAWK – For the past couple months, 5th graders at St. Mary’s and Tomahawk Elementary Schools have taken time out of their days to participate in the Drug Abuse and Resistance (D.A.R.E.) program.

Deputy Holly Steckbauer, of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, worked with the students and presented this substance and abuse program to them. On April 27, these 5th graders celebrated completing the program with a graduation ceremony. This was the first year that 100% of the students attended graduation.

Each student had written a letter to their future 8th grade self, to remind them about the dangers of substance abuse.

Clayton Gaedtke, Brett Hernandez, Promise James, Jack Reilly and Avery Suchomel received special recognition for their 1st-place essays and personally read them to the audience. They shared some key concepts that they wanted to remember through middle school and why it is important for their future to make responsible choices.

Pictured, from left to right: Deputy Holly Steckbauer, Promise James, Avery Suchomel, Brett Hernandez, Clayton Gaedtke, Jack Reilly. Contributed photo.

Teachers who sat through the program with their students hope they remember some key thoughts.

Mrs. Schultz said she hopes “that they learn how to have effective peer resistance and refusal skills so that they can say ‘no’ to drugs and their friends who may want them to use drugs. An important goal of the D.A.R.E. program is for students to build social skills and enhance their self-esteem when encountering a difficult situation.”

“I really hope our students remember how dangerous drugs and alcohol can become, and that it often only takes one time to become addicted,” Mrs. Roberts said. “It is glaringly clear that drugs and alcohol are a serious problem in our county, and even in some Tomahawk homes already. I just don’t want these awesome kids to grow up and become part of that problem. I hope this generation remembers the skills and the knowledge they gained in D.A.R.E., the awareness, and the emotions they felt as they heard real-life accounts to have the strength to always protect their futures.”

For more information about the D.A.R.E. program, visit www.dare.com.