Brian Toussaint, a fifth-grade student at Metompkin Elementary School, holds the trophy he was awarded for his winning D.A.R.E. essay, flanked by, left, Deputy Jason Campbell of the Accomack County Sheriff's Office, D.A.R.E. coordinator, and, right, Accomack County Sheriff Todd Wessells. The award was given during the annual D.A.R.E. celebration Tuesday, May 31, at Nandua High School. Photo by Carol Vaulghn
By Carol Vaughn — Fifth grade students from Accomack County Public Schools and Kiptopeke Elementary School in Northampton gathered on the grounds of Nandua High School Tuesday for the annual D.A.R.E. Day celebration.
D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a program that teaches students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe, healthy lives.
The program on the Eastern Shore is conducted by the sheriff’s offices of Accomack and Northampton counties.
Deputy Jason Campbell, of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, is D.A.R.E. coordinator for Accomack County schools.
Deputy Jennifer Scott, of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, is D.A.R.E. coordinator for Northampton County schools.
The D.A.R.E. curriculum is taught in thousands of schools in the 50 states and in United States territories, as well as in more than 50 other countries, reaching more than 1.5 million students annually, according to dare.org
Campbell kicked off the celebration, followed by comments by Accomack County Sheriff Todd Wessells.
Wessells thanked Campbell and the public school district and its teachers for allowing the sheriff’s office to conduct the D.A.R.E. program.
“You are moving on to middle school,” Wessells said to the students, adding, “Think about life choices. The choices you make can affect you years down the road.”
Campbell and Wessells awarded the trophy for the winning D.A.R.E. essay to Brian Toussaint, a student at Metompkin Elementary School.
A food drive was conducted in connection with the D.A.R.E. program, with the food collected going to the Foodbank of the Eastern Shore.
Students collected a total of 2,129 pounds of food.
Leslie Parker, Foodbank Branch Coordinator, awarded trophies to the three schools that collected the most food for the drive.
Tangier Combined School was awarded the trophy for collecting the most food, 1,755 pounds, with Metompkin Elementary School taking second place and Pungoteague Elementary School coming in third.
The celebration included a K-9 dog demonstration, tours of a Virginia Marine Police boat, games including soccer and foursquare, inflatable slides and a bounce house, and food.
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Fifth grade students from Accomack and Northampton public schools applaud during the annual D.A.R.E. Day celebration Tuesday, May 31, at Nandua High School. Photo by Carol Vaughn.
Brian Toussaint, a fifth-grade student at Metompkin Elementary School, holds the trophy he was awarded for his winning D.A.R.E. essay, flanked by, left, Deputy Jason Campbell of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, D.A.R.E. coordinator, and, right, Accomack County Sheriff Todd Wessells. The award was given during the annual D.A.R.E. celebration Tuesday, May 31, at Nandua High School. Photo by Carol Vaulghn
Fifth grade students from Accomack and Northampton county public schools line up to use an inflatable slide during the annual D.A.R.E. Day celebration Tuesday, May 31, at Nandua High School. Photo by Carol Vaughn.
Sgt. Julian Sharp and K-9 Fenrir, of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, prepare to do a K-9 demonstration during the annual D.A.R.E. celebration Tuesday, May 31, on the grounds of Nandua High School. Photo by Carol Vaughn.
Fifth grade students from Accomack and Northampton county public schools play soccer during the annual D.A.R.E. Day celebration Tuesday, May 31, at Nandua High School. Photo by Carol Vaughn.
Trophies were awarded to the three schools that collected the most food for a food drive in connection with the Eastern Shore’s D.A.R.E. program. The awards were made during the annual D.A.R.E. celebration Tuesday, May 31, at Nandua High School. From left, Foodbank of the Eastern Shore Branch Coordinator Leslie Parker; representing third-place school Pungoteague Elementary School, teacher Erica Blaine and student Ezekiel Jones; representing second place school Metompkin Elementary School, student Molly Stabler and teacher Sarah Brady; Accomack D.A.R.E. Coordinator Deputy Jason Campbell of the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office; representing first place school Tangier Combined School, student Mary (Ella) Willison and teacher Chelsea Marshall, and Accomack County Sheriff Todd Wessells. Photo by Carol Vaughn.
