Nebraska City fifth graders graduate D.A.R.E. program
Hayward Elementary is home to the first graduating class of the D.A.R.E. program since its return after a two-year absence.
By News Channel NebraskaNEBRASKA CITY - The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program was recently brought back to Nebraska City classrooms after a two year absence thanks to a $1,500 donation from the Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund and the first round of students recently completed the 10-week program.
The program is designed to alert students about the dangers of drug and alcohol consumption and the impacts of bullying.
Fifth graders at Hayward Elementary graduated the program under the guidance of Officer Casey Fertig. Parents and community leaders such as Mayor Bryan Bequette, City Administrator Lou Leone, Police Chief David Lacy and Superintendent Mark Fritch attended the graduation ceremony.
For Officer Fertig, she says running the D.A.R.E. program was a lot harder and a lot more work than she anticipated, but said she and the students grew while having a ton of fun over the course of the 10 weeks. Fertig added that she didn't know if she or the kids had more fun.
Fertig said the opportunity to lead the fifth graders through the program was rewarding and the relationships she created with the kids is one of the things she cherishes.
Fertig: "Getting to know the kids themselves [was the most rewarding]. I had students that refused to say a word at the beginning of the year and then [the students] were having conversations with me at the end [of the program]."
The Nebraska City community rallied behind the D.A.R.E. program and Fertig says that support made the graduation possible.
Fertig: "I wouldn't have been able to do this without the community support. All of this is because of our local community members and businesses so I'm extremely thankful."
The fifth grade program is expected to continue in the future and Fertig will be in charge of the eighth grade program in the fall.
