West students complete DARE program
Friday, May 9, 2008
Nearly 50 students in the third, fourth and fifth grades were recognized this week for completing the Peer Plus program, a DARE-affiliated program that matched Eudora High School students as mentors to the West students. Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six presented each of the students with a certificate at the year-end graduation.
The Peer Plus program included homework completion, games, art and other activities to develop relationships between the younger and older students.
“We've had the DARE program that we've coordinated in the high schools," Six said, "but this is the first program we figure that’s been done in Kansas to expand it to the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade level to get them ready for the middle school DARE program. It’s exciting that it starts here in Eudora.”
Peer Plus was initiated by EHS senior Michelle Smith, who has served on the national DARE American Youth Advisory Board. She became familiar with DARE Plus — which stands for Play and Learn Under Supervision —at a conference and got things up and running at West at the beginning of last year. The program grew in popularity over the two years, growing from a few high school mentors and around a dozen elementary students the first year to close to 50 West students and more than a dozen high schoolers this year.
"It's been a wonderful experience for the children in our school," said West Principal Jan Irby. "Our students have grown very close to their high school buddies and have grown as responsible individuals, as well."
The graduation ceremony for the West students also was attended by parents, teachers, Kansas DARE coordinator Jerry Tenbrink and Eudora assistant superintendent Don Grosdidier. At the end of the ceremony, a large wall mural was unveiled in the gymnasium as a culmination of the students' work.
