D.A.R.E. is a substance abuse prevention program developed to teach kids to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance use, and other dangerous behaviors. The Penn-Trafford School District, in partnership with the Penn Township Police, utilizes the D.A.R.E. curriculum in all of its elementary schools.
Officer Chad Meyers of the Penn Township Police taught D.A.R.E. lessons to all the district’s 5th-grade students beginning in September and ending with a poster project contest and graduation celebration in December, at which Officer Meyers spoke about the importance of making safe and responsible choices.
To celebrate the students’ pledge to be drug-free, Officer Meyers presented every student with a T-shirt and a dodgeball party with ice cream. He also selected two groups from each 5th-grade class whose poster best expressed what they learned and could take away from D.A.R.E.
The following students, whose projects were declared the winners, will receive a field trip to Urban Air Adventure Park:
Harrison Park Elementary – Lucas Antonucci, Forrest Rasel, Olivia Evangelista, Ella Breeger, Dawson Grominski, Mazzie Muller, Avery Simmons, Kellen Kiste, Trevor Barnett, Aryahanna Cianciotti, Luke Lyons, Fallyn Houy, Quinn McIntosh, Brooke Keibler, Brianna Nichols, Abigail Strasser, Madison Vasy, and Ava Santimauro
Level Green Elementary – Mia Adamson, Jacob Jones, Adelyn Lancz, Damon Eyler, Evan Tomasic, Willow Stack, Maddalena DeSantis, Morgan Spate, Tenley Dubyak, Gavin Dulemba, Wyatt McKenzie, Carter Marconi, and Zoey Kindler
McCullough Elementary – Brody Stuck, Olivia Liprando, Adley Turko, Breccon McPartland, Milaina Briggs, Brayden Smith, Jackson Piatt, Lilyonna King, Payton Dempsey, Layonna Bertoty, William Ament, Liam Bogonovich, Katherine Josephic, Deacon Surmacz, Olive Quinn, and Ariana Engle
Sunrise Estates Elementary – Alanna Pardus, Catherine McCabe, Skylar Schmidt, Landon Baughman, Lydia Schultz, Daisie Piercy, Jack Wetzel, Grace Adams, Zachary Tucek, Paul Lee, Maya Short, and Alexandria Comstock
Trafford Elementary – Luka Dorosh, Leilani Pape, Elliot Callaro, Logan Kopa, Elijah Bell, Audrey Bemis, Marilyn Safran, and Anthony Parasky
Office Meyers with the Harrison Park Elementary project winners
The Level Green Elementary project winners
The McCullough Elementary project winners
The Sunrise Elementary project winners
Officer Meyers and the Trafford Elementary project winners