D.A.R.E. Graduation Day at Meadow’s Edge!

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the fifth graders at Meadow’s Edge Elementary celebrated their completion of the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, the local version run by the St. Joseph County Police Department. Since the program was implemented locally in 1996, thousands of 5th and 6th grade students have graduated, learning skills to resist the pressures of using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

The program goes beyond simply identifying harmful substances: it teaches decision-making skills, how to say “no,” how to resist peer pressure, and helps build self‐esteem.

During the ceremony today, students sang a D.A.R.E. song and received a certificate commerating their completion of the program. One student from each of the three 5th-grade classrooms was also chosen as an essay winner, received a D.A.R.E. swag bag, and then read their personal essay aloud to the audience, showcasing their reflections on making smart, safe choices and resisting peer pressure.

Congratulations to the entire 5th grade class of Meadow’s Edge! #PHMExcellence

Click here to view the full photo gallery from the ceremony.