D.A.R.E.

…to say NO to drugs!

Remember elementary school? I recall the days of Officer Joe, his K-9, and his racing car back in the 5th grade at Rawlings. Well, I brought Officer Joe, or in this case Oficiales Sara y Maria del Carmen, to Jabillo and La Y Griega to educate kids from four rural schools in my area on drugs, violence, and the damage they can cause you or the people you love. Coordinating this event was a nightmare, trying to get officials to teach in two separate schools (Jabillo, La Y Griega) and schedule classes providing for students coming from two other schools (Las Pampas, Juan de León). This meant transportation as well.

Try finding a free ride for a group of kids over a river and through the cow fields… while everyone who owns a truck is out there working for his dinner. But thanks to the excellent collaboration of my Comité Tutelar, we collected nearly $140 with a Bingo event and were able to fund all the operating costs of the program, with leftover funds for the graduation party!

After an intense week-long program crammed from a curriculum that normally consists of months of sessions, thirteen 5th and 6th graders (and several enthusiastic high school kids) graduated from the junior anti-drug program at our evening graduation (with an attendance of over 120 people, why didn’t we do food sales!?!)

Geared for children from 1st to 6th grade, we had 40 kids participate in the program overall. Not bad, considering the kids were on vacation and the program was 100% voluntary!

The pictures include a shot from the course, a photo of the girls at the beach (I had to let them have some fun trapped in my little towns all week!), the two graduating groups from three schools, and one of the younger kids at the graduation.

Oh , and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!