It was a outstanding graduation ceremony with a gym full of guests for 210 fifth graders at East Side Intermediate School as they completed the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program and received their certificates. The instructor for the program is Officer Donelda Arview of the Brownsville Police Department, who sponsors this program at East Side.

The national website for the program says, “D.A.R.E. envisions a world in which students everywhere are empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse, and other dangerous behaviors.” Among other words of wisdom, Officer Arview spoke to the children about having respect and making the right decisions. Children attended the 10-week program during one of their auxiliary slots each week.

There was an essay contest and the three winners were recognized: first place, Shivam Patel; second place, Cam Barr; and third place, Jocelyn Martinez.

Also participating in the program were Superintendent of Haywood County Schools Teresa Russell, former teacher and principal in Haywood County Schools Dorothy Bond, East Side Principal Sandra Humphreys and Assistant Principal Mandy Bell, Assistant Police Chief Kelvin Evans, Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls, and several graduates, including Amaya Ferrer, Taylor Binion, Cam Barr, Trenton Evans, Wyatt Faught, and Alexa Leon.