Triton 5th graders graduate from D.A.R.E. program

With many parents and grandparents in attendance, members of the Triton Elementary School fifth grade class received their certificates of completion for the D.A.R.E. program in a graduation last week in the Performing Arts Center of the high school.
Dodge County Deputy Matthew Stradtmann, who taught the D.A.R.E. course, presented the certificates.
In addition to presenting the certificates, one student from each fifth grade class was selected to read their D.A.R.E. essay. The four winning essays, he said, will be sent to the Minnesota D.A.R.E. essay contest. The essay winners included Carmen Molina, Brynja Cochran, George Stanton and Landon Nauman.
Graham Pluto and Aspen Sackett were also recognized for their D.A.R.E. posters which will also go on to the state contest.
“I’m proud of all the D.A.R.E. graduates,” Stradtmann told those attending. They all worked very hard, he said, and that effort will pay off in the long run.
D.A.R.E. is a nationwide program designed to help students make good decisions.
During the course, Stradtmann said, the students deal with a variety of topics all aimed at helping them learn how to be responsible citizens and make good decisions. The program discusses how to handle peer pressure on such issues as alcohol and drugs, how to deal with bullying, how to resist the bad choices they are faced with, stresses, communicating confidently, effective listening, helping others and what it takes to be a good citizen.
“Your child now has the tools to succeed and make safe choices,” Stradtmann told the adults in the audience. It is up to the parents and other adults to help the children as they face these issues, he said.
Following the program, the students and the attending adults were invited to the school cafeteria for refreshments.