The first graduating class of the seventh grade D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program at Leland Middle School will be celebrating their completion of the curriculum on June 1, 2007 from 4:00-7:00 pm at the middle school.  Corporal Sherry Lewis of the Leland Police Department initiated the D.A.R.E. program at Leland Middle School in 2006.  Lewis has been with the department for 6 years and is a certified Student Resource Officer (SRO). 

 

The day will include catered food, guest speakers and a dance with a DJ.  In addition, all graduates will receive a certificate of promotion, with essay winners being rewarded with a week at D.A.R.E. camp.  

 

 “I am very proud of all of our graduates,” said Corporal Lewis.  “They have worked hard this year and this ceremony proves their strong work ethic and dedication to being drug-free. D.A.R.E. is a vital part of the education system and I am proud that Leland has given this opportunity to students.” 

 

With the launch of its program, the Leland Police Department joins the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department as one of two law enforcement agencies in Brunswick County with an active D.A.R.E program.   For more information, please call the Leland Police Department at 910-371-1100 or visit www.townofleland.com.

 

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence.  D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has proven so successful that it is now being implemented in 75 percent of our nation's school districts and in more than 43 countries around the world. D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.  For more information about D.A.R.E., please visit www.dare.com.