On Thursday, May 12, Officer Donelda Arview, instructor for D.A.R.E., conducted the graduation ceremony for 208 fifth graders who participated in the program. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, and the program is about substance abuse prevention education and much more! Officer Arview is the School Resource Officer for East Side Intermediate School, and the D.A.R.E. program is a partnership between the Haywood County Schools, the Brownsville Police Department and the City of Brownsville.

Opening the program was Brownsville Police Chief Barry Diebold who addressed the students, faculty, administrators, guests and families about the benefits of D.A.R.E. Officer Arview announced the three Essay Winners. Ashton Doyle won third place, Chris Branch won second place, and Leighanna Baker won first place. Students in Ms. Garrigus’ class were the winners of the Poster Contest. Also participating in the program were East Side Principal Sandra Humphreys, Assistant Principal Mandy Bell, HCS Federal Programs Director Dorothy Bond, Superintendent of Schools Teresa Russell and Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls.