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Schools

Graduating With Vows Of Health At Barlow Mountain

Fifth graders at Barlow Mountain Elementary School recieved their Pomp-and-Circumstance ceremony Friday as they graduated from their ten-week D.A.R.E. program taught by Officer David Samoskevich.

“I vow to stay drug free and live a healthy life.” That’s what fifth-graders at Barlow Mountain Elementary School promised Friday morning, as they walked across the stage to receive their D.A.R.E. diplomas.

The school and the Ridgefield Police Department have been running the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program since Barlow opened its doors to students in 2003, according to parent, Margaret Stamatis.

This year’s fifth graders started the ten-week program immediately after finishing up CMT week. Since the beginning of April, students have worked with D.A.R.E. office David Samoskevich, to learn how to cope with uncomfortable situations.

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“They gave [students] one class on how to deal with peer pressure,” parent, Jennifer Wieland said. “My son loved it, he came home just blabbering about what he learned and he really doesn’t normally do that.”

According to Stamatis, the Ridgefield Police Department D.A.R.E. officers rotate between each of the six elementary schools in Ridgefield.

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“I teach two different schools,” Samokevich said. “We have four different D.A.R.E. officers.”

During the officers’ time at the elementary schools, they cover the bases of peer pressure, alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, friendship foundations and internet safety. The Officers have Ridgefield High School juniors and seniors step in as role models for the elementary students. The role models and officers even give the students tips on how to make homework easier.

One aspect of the program that  Samoskevich was not able to include in the program was having a K9 officer visit the school. Due to scheduling issues, they had to forego the event.

“The principals and teachers have incredible support for the D.A.R.E. program,” Stamatis stated.

In Samokevich’s fourth year with the D.A.R.E. program, he has seen hundreds of students pledge healthy lifestyles. At Friday’s graduation ceremony, three students braved the podium to read essays about the lessons they learned from the D.A.R.E. program.

“I know all the harmful things alcohol can do to you,” fifth-grader, Kevin Johnson said.

Johnson who confidently delivered his speech read some statisics he had learned throughout the program.

“Four-thousand people a year die from side-effects of tobacco [use],” he said. “I learned a lot of valuable information from D.A.R.E., it was a fun program,” he added.

His classmate, Christopher Strong read a similar account of his experience to the audience of parents and siblings.

“Three-thousand non-smokers die each year from second-hand smoke,” Strong read. “Tobacco can dry out your skin, give you yellow teeth and bad breath,” he warned.

Lastly, Johnson’s and Strong’s peer, Courtney Miles gave a warning about marijuana.

“In other countries marijuana is illegal, but not here in the United States,” she said. “Officer Samokevich taught us about all the bad things marijuana can do.”

Parents, appreciative of Officer Samoskevich’s time with the students, have been able to learn a little something themselves.

“The Ridgefield Coalition Program has a TIPP program for parents of fifth-graders,” Stamatis explained. “They hold six informative sessions a year. It’s not specifically tied to the D.A.R.E. program, but it hits upon the same things at the same time.”

As the students lined the stage to receive their D.A.R.E. diplomas, Dispatcher Issy Caporale stepped out in a fierce D.A.R.E. lion costume and congratulated students with a warm hug. The kids were excited to see the surprise mascot.

The students will have a chance to learn from the D.A.R.E. program again when they reach the end of their Middle School years.

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