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Ville Platte High fifth graders celebrate D.A.R.E. graduation

Gazette Staff Report

On May 18, 2016, the Ville Platte High School auditorium was the setting for the D.A.R.E. graduation of the 5th grade class.
The instructor for the program was Ville Platte Police Department Detective Patrick Hall who works with 5th graders at all of the local schools, teaching them the fundamentals of the D.A.R.E. program.
The guest panel for this graduation consisted of Detective Hall, Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue, Youth Minister Antoine Anthony of the Zion Traveler Church in Mamou and guest speaker Louisiana State Police Trooper Willie Williams.
Trooper Williams spoke about making good choices and reaping the benefits of making good choices. He reminded the students that making good choices would allow them to each become whatever they wanted to be in the future.
There were a total of six 5th grade classes this year at Ville Platte High School. Each student was asked to write an essay about what they have learned from the D.A.R.E. program and Detective Hall reads each and every one of them. Detective Hall stated that he has a very hard time choosing one winner from each class because he could see where each student has learned and grown from participating in the program.
This year’s essay contest winners were: Roselena Thomas, Zanaria Poullard, Malaiah Ledet, Kardarion Nichols and Angel Weston. Congratulations to our winners.
After the ceremony the students were treated to cupcakes and drink pouches which were donated by the Ville Platte Walmart store #312 courtesy of Manager Josh Anderson. Detective Hall would like to thank Walmart for their contribution to the D.A.R.E program and the students.
Chief Lartigue stated that the department is proud to continue serving and educating others on the dangers of drugs, alcohol, bullying and peer pressure.
“Knowledge is the key to helping the younger generation make wise choices,” Lartigue said. “We hope that the lessons they have learned through this program will shape their decisions and aid them in becoming productive adults and role models.”
Detective Hall spent 10 weeks teaching lessons on peer pressure, making wise decisions, drug resistance, bullying, how to say no and self-esteem. Detective Hall said that he enjoys working with the students and hopes that what they have learned will help them to stop and think before they do something that isn’t good for them.
“This program benefits the students as well as the parents,” Hall said. “If the parents reinforce those lessons the children have an even better chance of success.”

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