Last month, Kincheloe Elementary fifth-grade students graduated from the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) “Keepin’ it Real” program.

The 10-week program, presented by Deputy MaKenzie Kreiner from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, taught students about the health effects and health facts of drugs and alcohol, risks, consequences, responsibility and responsible decision making by using the D.A.R.E. decision making model: peer pressure, effective listening, nonverbal communication bullying prevention, helping others and asking for help. They were also required to write a D.A.R.E. essay about what they had learned.

At the completion the kids were presented with a certificate for their hard work.

Several students’ essays were chosen, showing they had a clear understanding of what they had learned from the D.A.R.E. program.

This year’s essay winners were Aubrey Busby, Ado Geegan, Danni Purlee, Maggie Weller and Madisyn Williams.

D.A.R.E. not only teaches the kids facts, but it also builds a positive relationship with law officials to be able to ask for help or ask questions when needed, program organizers said.

Kreiner also teaches the D.A.R.E. program at Sam Adams Elementary, Marcellus Elementary and Howard-Ellis Elementary.