The first 18 years of the DARE program in Warsaw Community Schools ended the same way.
A graduation ceremony took place at each of the schools in the corporation.
This year, DARE graduates were treated to something different.
Trace Hansen, who bought Eastlake Skate Center in September 2007, contacted Warsaw Police Department and offered the skating rink as a place to celebrate."I got an an e-mail one day in February sometime," said WPD and DARE officer Doug Light. "He had a lot of appreciation for the DARE program."
Hansen had first-hand knowledge of living in a community where there was no DARE program. Hansen spent three years as a police officer in Everett, Wash., where the DARE program had been cut.
The DARE program has gone through a makeover to keep up with kids who are a lot savvier.
"Just say no doesn't work anymore," said WPD DARE officer Terry Polston. "It's more about kids making their own choices and using the tools available to make good choices."
The DARE program is supported solely through WPD and contributions from the community.
"We have really good community support," said Polston. "And (WPD) Chief Perry Hunter supports the program 100 percent."
Both Light and Polston noted how the DARE program is a way to build a better relationship with the community.
Hansen, who said it's been a lifelong dream to own a skating rink and was a professional skater himself, said he plans to continue allowing the DARE program to have graduation parties at Eastlake.
"I'm definitely looking forward to doing this next year," said Hansen.
Light, who was skating with the kids at Thursday night's party, is a first-year DARE officer. Light sees how the program not only teaches kids the essentials of the DARE program, but also teaches kids to open up to police officers,
"Being a first-year officer, you see kids who are a little intimidated at first. You chip away at those walls, and after a while they just want to talk," said Light.
The DARE program lasts 15 weeks, involves workbooks and worksheets. The kids watch videos and do role-playing exercises. Kids graduate from the program at the end of their sixth-grade year.
Light and Polston each had four different schools they attended and became fully immersed in their day.
"We eat lunch with them, go to class with them," said Light.
"I try and duck out during the pre-algebra class," joked Polston.
While the program focuses on the dangers of drug abuse, it also focuses on such things as self-esteem.
Part of the reason the officers wanted to have a skate party was to introduce kids to each other who will be going to either Lakeview or Edgewood Middle School next year. Graduates headed to Lakeview had their skate party Tuesday night, while grads headed to Edgewood held theirs Thursday night.
In all, more than 160 kids attended both nights.
Next year, the officers said they hope to hold the skate party closer to the actual DARE graduation, which takes places in early April.
For more information or to contribute to the DARE program, contact Warsaw Police Department at 574-372-9515.
