An RCMP helicopter landed to help 46 Grade 5 students at Osoyoos Elementary School celebrate their graduation from the DARE program. (Keith Lacey photo)
It was a very special and memorable day for 46 Grade 5 students at Osoyoos Elementary School on Monday.
Not only did they officially graduate from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, but they were invited to sit in the cockpit of an RCMP helicopter,
Cpl. Jason Bayda arranged for officers with the RCMP’s South East District Air Services to fly a police helicopter onto school property.
All of the teachers, staff and students at Osoyoos Elementary School lined up outside the school early Monday afternoon to watch pilots land the powerful and beautiful machines in the school’s upper playing field.
All of the 46 Grade 5 students enrolled in the DARE program were then invited to sit down in the cockpit inside the impressive piece of machinery and have their pictures taken.
This was a memorable way to reward the students and promote a continuing positive relationship between the police, local youth and schools, said Bayda.
For the previous five weeks, the students attended two DARE classes per week to receive information and training on how to make wise choices when it comes to drugs and alcohol, as well as how to properly treat their peers and be good citizens in general.
For the past five years, Const. Kelly Bayda has been teaching the DARE Program at Osoyoos Elementary School.
The program has proven very effective in teaching young students about making safe and responsible decisions, she said.
“I’m very proud of all of the graduates,” she said.
Each of the DARE graduates received a certificate acknowledging they had completed the course.
Numerous parents showed up for the graduation ceremony and were thanked for supporting the program over the past several years.
After the graduation ceremony, all of the DARE students, parents and several teachers were treated to chocolate cake.
Vice-principal Jason McAllister thanked all of those involved for making the DARE program such a success.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Students lined up outside Osoyoos Elementary School Monday afternoon as an RCMP helicopter landed to help 46 Grade 5 students celebrate their graduation from the DARE program. (Keith Lacey photo)
