The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program is a cooperative effort between the Colchester Police Department and the Colchester School District to provide relevant drug education to our youth.

Purpose

The DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program is a cooperative effort between the Colchester Police Department and the Colchester School District to provide relevant drug education to our youth in order to prevent/reduce drug abuse within our community. The program's emphasis is to help students recognize and resist the many pressures that influence them to experiment with gateway drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana as well as other dangerous substances. The program's strategies focus on building self-esteem, interpersonal and communications skills, decision making, and positive alternatives to drug use behavior.

Organization

Educational lessons are conducted by specially trained Police Officers, and are broken into grade levels. Certified DARE instructors:

Corporal Jaime Bressler is the primary educator and the primary school/community resource officer.

Curriculum

First Through Fourth Grade
First through 4th grade classes receive 4 lessons. The lesson topics include:

These lessons are designed to introduce students into learning about rules that govern behavior and how they apply to real-life situations. These lessons are meant to complement existing educational efforts given by the homeroom teacher and the guidance offices.

Third & Fourth Grade Levels
The 3rd and 4th grade levels receive a higher level of drug and prevention strategies while still following the central themes discussed in the earlier grades. The lessons are complimentary in style and address the issues as seen from the perspective of our 9 and 10 year olds:

Emphasis is placed on adapting information learned in the classroom setting to real life situations.

Fifth Grade Level
The 5th grade level is organized into 10 50-minute lessons, concluding with an assembly activity/graduation. During the course of the semester, students participate in facilitated discussions on topics relating to:

Students participate in final projects prior to graduating from the program. The research-based programming evolves around a central theme in which the students are introduced to the "DARE Decision-Making Model". This model is designed to build the students' capacities to solve difficult personal and social problems related to substance use and abuse and to make and act on decisions that are informed and in their best interest. While many of the scenarios discussed involve interactions involving drugs and alcohol, students are taught that the same decision-making skills may benefit them in other areas of their lives, to include relationships, risky behaviors, interpersonal communications, etc.

Seventh Grade Level
The 7th grade program consists of a series of 10 50-minute lessons on drug education, social skills, normative beliefs and violence prevention strategies. In a recent update, the information brings strategies into focus through the use of the DARE Decision-Making Model, learned in the 5th grade level. To enhance their abilities, students are encouraged to combine the decision-making using 4 communication strategies. This program is entitled, "Keepin’ It REAL" and teaches the communication strategies Refuse, Explain, Avoid and Leave. By using these strategies in conjunction with one another or as a "stand alone" concept, students are encouraged to work through practical problems by; refusing to take part if the activity is unsafe or unwanted, by explaining their opinions or concerns that the activity is not for them, by avoiding the activity or avoiding the situation once they may find themselves in it, or by safely leaving the activity or area. The program usually culminates with a visit from Corporal David Dewey (Colchester Police) and his K-9 Tazor.

Learn more about the event in which Police Officers read selected books to individual classrooms.

During "I Love to Read Week", members of the public and the Colchester Police Department go into various schools, Union Memorial, Porters Point, and the Malletts Bay School and read selected books to the individual classrooms. This is done to promote reading awareness and get the students actively involved in understanding the role of education, in particular, reading, in the development of their personal and future roles in our communities.

Participate in Red Ribbon Week, a week commemorating the activities and dedication exhibited by Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camerena, a Drug Enforcement Special Agent killed in the line of duty in 1986.

Members of the Colchester Police Department and the Malletts Bay School participate in Red Ribbon Week, a week commemorating the activities and dedication exhibited by Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camerena, a Drug Enforcement Special Agent killed in the line of duty in 1986 by members of a drug cartel in Mexico.

Modeled after his statement to his mother who raised concern with his choice of a profession, Kiki is remembered to have told her, “Even if I’m only one person, I can make a difference.” Keeping with the concept of making a positive difference in their lives and their impact with the lives of others, students are encouraged to:

School Resource Officers serve the school community in other roles, assisting students, staff and administration in dealing with problems particular to the school environment, both physical and environmental.

In conjunction with their other assigned duties as D.A.R.E. instructors, Corporal Bressler is also assigned to the school district as School Resource Officer. As such, they serve the school community in other roles, assisting students as well as staff and administration in dealing with problems particular to the school environment, both physical and environmental. Such areas include:

We are also available to address specific issues (thefts, harassment, bullying, fights, truancy and residency issues, etc.) should they arise and the request is made from the administration or parents.