D.A.R.E. graduates

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary/Middle School held its 16th annual Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) graduation for fifth graders on May 22. Officer Jeff West of the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake has been teaching D.A.R.E. at Blessed Sacrament for 16 years. He interacts with each class in grades pre-k through fifth on a weekly basis, teaching lessons at an age-appropriate level. D.A.R.E. is an internationally recognized model of community policing. The program teaches children the skills needed to recognize and resist subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities. Besides completing a workbook during the 17-week course, Blessed Sacrament fifth graders are required to write an essay. Essay winners this year are Anica Mackenzie and Andrew Bork.

Courtesy photo/Blessed Sacrament School