KEARNEY — After returning last year for the first time in a decade, Emerson Elementary celebrated their second DARE class graduation ceremony during the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 25.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE., is an education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior.
It was founded in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1983 as a joint initiative between the Los Angeles Police Department and the city’s Unified School District.
“I am thrilled to celebrate our 5th-grade students on their DARE graduation,” stated Meredith Johnson, Emerson Principal.
“This important milestone reflects their commitment to making positive choices and staying on a healthy, successful path. Our students have gained essential skills to navigate challenges, resist peer pressure, and make responsible decisions. We are incredibly grateful for the Kearney Police Department’s dedication and support in empowering our students to become confident, informed leaders in their lives and communities. Congratulations to our DARE graduates—we are excited to see how these valuable lessons will guide them on their journey ahead,” Johnson said.
The instructor for Kearney’s first DARE class Kearney Police Department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) Boyd Weller, who has been with KPD for nearly 19 years.
Weller started the graduation ceremony by thanking Emerson Elementary Principal Meredith Johnson and fifth grade teachers Kelly Pocock and Evie Schroeder.
The DARE mission is teaching students decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives and the DARE vision is a world in which students everywhere are empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse and other dangerous behaviors, said Weller.
“I have had the opportunity over the last 10 weeks to get to know my students at Emerson Elementary and through the DARE curriculum, provide them with knowledge, skills and strategies to live safe and healthy lives,” said Weller, “I say my students because they will forever be my students, as I will forever be their DARE officer.”
Weller said it is his hope that every student in the community knows that they can contact any law enforcement or educational professional and know that these are trusted adults that care about them.
DARE is known well for teaching students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but Weller said he also told the students about the importance of making responsible and safe decisions.
“We talked about being a good citizen, helping others and knowing what it means to show empathy. It was also very important for me to tell my students that if you are going to report something, do it in a way that keeps you or others safe,” Weller said.
The fifth-grade students had all been asked to write an essay about what they have learned in DARE, how they have used the DARE decision model and how they plan to use what they have learned.
The fifth-grade students had all been asked to write an essay about what they have learned in DARE, how they have used the DARE decision model and how they plan to use what they have learned.
Two students, Adriel Rivas and Callie Long, were selected to read their essays to the crowd. Rivas presented his, while Long had fallen ill earlier in the day.
After the readings, each student was called forward to receive their DARE certificate from Weller.
We appreciate Weller’s effort and willingness to get to know our students. He has had a positive impact on the students during his time at Emerson, with the lessons he taught and with the relationships he started. We have been honored to be a part of bringing DARE back to Kearney Public Schools,” Emerson Elementary staff stated.
