By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN – Students were taught the skills needed to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence, and with that knowledge celebrated their graduation from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program Feb. 26 at the Walter C. Black School.
“We have worked very hard during the past few months to learn about the harmful effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and how to make good choices,” said Student Council President Piper Kubicki.
On behalf of the fifth-grade students, Ms. Kubicki thanked patrol officer Janine Krupa for all of her hard work and dedication to the DARE program.
Local and school administration officials attended the graduation ceremony, including Hightstown Mayor Larry Quattrone; East Windsor Township Mayor Janice Mironov; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Katz; East Windsor Township Council member Denise Daniels; and police officers from Hightstown and East Windsor.
Every student was presented with a certificate and DARE t-shirt. Officer Krupa, from the Hightstown Police Department, was the students’ DARE instructor and taught the “Keeping It Real” program at the elementary school.
The students have been learning the 10 DARE lessons since November of 2015. Officer Krupa said the topics of the lessons included decision-making, risks and consequences, peer pressure, dealing with stressful situations, communicating and listening, bullying and helping others.
“The students have also done homework and projects, made posters, written poems, and practiced songs that you will be hearing today,” said Officer Krupa.
Hightstown Mayor Quattrone addressed the audience and congratulated both the students and their parents.
“The DARE program is a great program and works if the parents let it work,” said Mayor Quattrone. He added that the students have been taught to go and ask for help when they need it from parents or the police.
“Be there for them, open your eyes, listen to what they have to say, ” he said to the parents. “They are not going to say it in the same language that you and I are going to say it.”
East Windsor Township Mayor Mironov reiterated the day’s theme.
“This is an opportunity that we can all come together as a community, Hightstown Borough, East Windsor, the school district, the teachers, administrators, parents, friends and supporters of our young people here in the community,” said Mayor Mironov. “It’s a great celebration to see what together we can do to guide our children, to support our children and today to congratulate them and express our great pride in what they are accomplishing here today.”
Student Council representative Aidan Tobia announced the poem contest winners from each class. They included Carly Krutman from Mrs. Barr’s class; Luke Smith from Mr. Falter’s class; Jasmin Sirjoo from Miss Lentine’s class; and Sara Frasso from Mrs. Randall’s class. The students than all read their winning poems.
“These are the days when people underestimate the power of smoking but in a few days they will start choking,” said Carly during the reading of her poem. “These are the days when people get addicted, unfortunately for them these sometimes cannot be predicted.”
Student Council representative Riley Rosenberger announced the poster contest winners from each of the classes. They included Nicholas Arsnow from Mrs. Barr’s class; Allison Yeager from Mr. Falter’s class; Destiney Pelaez from Miss Lentine’s class; and Elise Rosario from Mrs. Randall’s class.
Students were then presented with their certificates by Principal Samantha Felicetta.
“The DARE program educates students to handle pressure and difficult situations that are bound to come their way,” said Ms. Felicetta. “Patrolman Krupa worked diligently with our students to teach our students how to stand up for their values, and resist negative influences both at home and at school.”
She said the school tries to surrounded the students with character education, anti-bullying programs and skills and strategies to avoid harmful situations.
“As the adults in their lives, it is harder to think that the reality bad things happen in the world regardless of our efforts,” she said. “Therefore, it is important to arm our students with the knowledge so when faced with those tough situations or negative influences they will be able to say no and be able to make the right decisions.”
Principal Felicetta also complimented the fifth-graders on the posters.
“Your posters and poems are thoughtful and creative,” she said. “I’m very proud of you. As you grow older you will be faced with positive and negative situations. It will be up to you to decide how you handle those situations. I know you are strong enough to stay true to your values.”
