By: Julissa Ariel Ramirez
On June 16, 2016, Somerset students came together along with the police department to celebrate the end of this year’s D.A.R.E Program along with the 20 year anniversary of Detective Fowler’s service to North Plainfield.
Throughout the year, these students learned what it meant to be responsible and make good decisions when it comes to the use of drugs and alcohol. Many students thanked Detective Fowler as well as the rest of the officers for their assistance. “In the eighth weeks in D.A.R.E, I learned a lot. If you have a friend that smokes, that can cause problems. If you hang around with kids that smoke, that is second hand smoke. I pledge to never join gangs, smoke or do drugs,” said a D.A.R.E student. The group also discussed the different laws against tobacco, marijuana and alcohol as well as pledged not to do drugs or consume alcohol.
Mr. Saint-Rose, the Somerset School principal, also explained his appreciation for the D.A.R.E Program, “We really appreciate the insight and knowledge of the D.A.R.E Program and we appreciate the support of the important program.
You are given information that you will use beyond Somerset School where you can either take the positive or negative road. Make sure you understand the difficulties you can do to your own body. It is up to you to do the right thing.”
The students’ parents, faculty along with the rest of the community united to congratulate the students on their accomplishments and pledges to be the best they can be. The D.A.R.E Program will continue next year, to teach more students on how to be responsible and say no to gangs, drugs and alcohol.
(above) Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is an international substance abuse prevention education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior.
