The Sedalia Middle School held a D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony for the students that finished the program that teaches kids to no resist  drugs and make good decisions.There were 76 5th graders who completed the program, led by Sgt. Bradley Beard, Officer Michael Elwood and Officer Rodney Collins of the Sedalia Police Department at the Sedalia Middle School.

There were six essays read by students that wrote about what they learned in class, from Memphis Stevens, Ramey Kempton, Arden Schupp, Peyton Kuhlman, Tim Sheremeta and Aiden Wells.

For those unfamiliar with D.A.R.E. here is a summary on the Sedalia D.A.R.E website.

 D.A.R.E. requires that specially trained, uniformed police officers conduct the lessons in the classroom.  D.A.R.E. brings the firsthand accounts of the officers' experiences from the street to the classroom that not only intrigues students but also helps to foster a positive relationship between the students and police officers.  While officers actually conduct the D.A.R.E. lessons, a licensed teacher is required to be present in the classroom.  The D.A.R.E. program meets the core educational standards of health, language arts, and math.  Not only are the officers reinforcing the schools curriculum, but the teachers are reinforcing the D.A.R.E. curriculum.

The lessons provide factual information about drugs, with an emphasis on alcohol, and tobacco with supplemental lessons of synthetic drugs, marijuana, and methamphetamines.  Refusal skills are taught through role-playing and other techniques.  D.A.R.E. has undergone revisions to address a curriculum that is science-based and age appropriate.  D.A.R.E. has broadened its focus to include conflict resolution, bullying, gang-prevention, and parent education.

The classes were conducted in Mr. Jeremy Bartz's health class. Each student that graduated were presented with a red D.A.R.E. shirt that says to resist drugs and violence and a certificate.

There is a spring 2015 class that will start for students that have parental permission to be in the program.

It should be noted that while the D.A.R.E. program is done in school, the workbooks, shirts and awards and program is paid through donations and one of the biggest supporters, Bob Hiller, was on hand to recognize the students for their efforts.

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