Parents, grandparents, teachers and community leaders watched Friday as 122 Bank Avenue Elementary sixth-grade students received their D.A.R.E. education certificates and the message from the Rev. Charles Banks.
Banks shared his personal experiences with peer pressure and how he went to college on an academic scholarship but quit school and became a leader of a Crips gang in Arkansas.
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“This program does work, and I had an awesome time with the students today,” Jacob said. “When the school year begins, I look forward to working with the students and educating them about drugs.”
Shalaci Sassau and Brayton Bodin said they learned a lot during the past four months.
“I learned not to take any drugs from anyone, because drugs are not good for you,” Sassau said. “Drugs can kill you and I will remember this day for a long time, because I don’t want anything to happen to me because of drugs.”
Bodin said if he is ever caught up in peer pressure with his friends about drugs he will just walk away.
“I will never do drugs, because they can only hurt you,” Bodin said. “Drugs are not cool and can often harm your brain, heart, body and lungs.”
Bank Avenue Elementary Principal Maxine Jones said she hopes the students can take the lessons learned from Jacob througout their lives.
“I am really proud of them for all of the hard work and effort they have put in to meet their goals for today’s graduation,” Jones said.
Students also were acknowledged throughout the program by David Landry, chief of staff for the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, All-State Insurance agent Gilbert “Doc” Thomas, Assistant District Attorney Roger Hamilton, Iberia Parish schools drug-free coordinator Darlene French and Tim Vice, compliance officer with the city of New Iberia, who urged students to stay in school and away from drugs.
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