The worship hall at Speak the Word Ministries in Peter’s Rest was full of beaming fifth and sixth graders Friday, celebrating their graduation from the Safe and Drug Free Coole School Program sponsored by VING Counterdrug Task Force.
The program started in 2000 when the VING task force began supporting the US Attorney’s Office with its After School Peer Helpers Homework Assistance Program at Juanita Gardine Elementary School.
The Safe & Drug Free Coole School Program takes into consideration the whole child. Coole School day planners were chosen as a tool to assist students with their academic achievements. The age-appropriate planners are focused on academics, character building, drug prevention, goal setting, and planning.
The focus of the Department of Education Safe and Drug Free Program is to assist in building student’s resilient factors against drugs, violence, and negative behaviors, with Guard personnel serving as role models. Guardsmen from the task force present different drug-free programs at the schools once a week for 12 weeks.
As usual, with VING programs, the ceremony stated promptly at 9:30 a.m. with four girls from Evelyn Williams singing the National Anthem and V.I. March. A handful of Alfredo Andrews students put on a drug related puppet show with furry animal puppets.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. briefly spoke to the students about staying away from drugs and alcohol.
“We need you to stay away from drugs,” deJongh told the children. “You are our future – you are the generation to take the Virgin Islands to the next level. You are the best of the Virgin Islands.”
And almost all the speakers reminded the students to respect their mothers and to remember them Sunday.
Gov. deJongh and Maj. Gen. Renaldo Rivera, adjutant general of VING, presented a packet of student awards and certificates to teachers representing each school.
Around 500 students from Alexander Henderson, Eulalie Rivera, Evelyn M. Williams, Juanita Gardine, Charles H. Emanuel, Pearl B. Larsen, Alfredo Andrews, and Lew Muckle elementary schools attended the ceremony.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Aretha Ventura, of Drug Demand Reduction, said around 1,000 students have completed the program this school year with 500 students graduating in Dec.
VING and DOE sponsor the program and Rotary Clubs of the Virgin Islands help with the purchase of the planners.
