Central fifth-graders complete ‘Too Good for Drugs’ program
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Fifth-grade students at Central West Elementary School celebrated the completion of the “Too Good for Drugs” program on May 15. The program, which aimed to promote healthy decision-making and substance abuse prevention, was facilitated by two dedicated School Resource Officers from the Park Hills Police Department.
Principal Ruble Ryan Ruble expressed his appreciation and admiration for Officers Pendergraft and Shaw, emphasizing the crucial importance of elementary students establishing rapport with law enforcement members and recognizing them as protectors of the community. He said all the school resource officers (SRO) do a phenomenal job advocating for the city.
He said the more familiar Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, founded in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department, focused on “saying no to drugs, peer pressure resistance, and awareness of drug dangers.” Ruble said many Central alumni would remember participating in that program with Officer Gary Carver.
The “Too Good” program, developed by the Mendez Foundation, is more modern in presentation and emphasizes building life skills. The program promotes positive decision-making and goal setting while focusing on protective factors such as self-esteem, pro-social bonding, emotional competency, and resilience to help participants navigate challenges and avoid substance abuse.
“They learned the program content and really made it their own; each officer’s unique individual personality came out. The officers alternated weeks in the classrooms, and our fifth-grade teachers were tasked with helping to conduct the classroom. They aren’t used to being teachers because they are law enforcement officers, but they did an amazing job. I was so very pleased with the kids, and they couldn’t wait for their ‘Too Good for Drugs’ lesson, and that’s what we hoped for,” Ruble said.
The award ceremony, held in the school’s auditorium, was attended by students, faculty, parents, and community members. Each student received a certificate of completion, recognizing their commitment to making positive life choices and resisting peer pressure.
Ruble said, “You learned that it was more than just saying no to drugs. It was about learning to say yes to yourself, yes to your goals, and yes to your health. Yes, to making smart choices to lead you to the kind of life that you want. We talked about setting goals, dealing with peer pressure, making good friends, and staying confident when getting things done. You practiced using your voice, thinking ahead, and staying true to who you are. You did it all with energy, questions, laughs, and some pretty impressive teamwork skills. You all showed me how thoughtful, creative, and strong you can be.
“Whether you were raising your hand with a great question, helping a classmate figure something out, or sharing a real-life story that made us all think. You brought your best selves to this program, and I want you to remember those skills. They’re going to help you far in life in the classroom. So, as you get ready for middle school, I want you to carry what you’ve learned with you. Keep making smart choices. Keep believing in yourself. Keep being a friend that others can count on. Keep remembering that you are too good for drugs and stay on track. Congratulations, fifth graders!”
Students were called to the presentation area to receive their certificates of completion, but not before fist bumps or handshakes with Officer Shaw or Officer Pendergraft. Officer Pendergraft spoke next, thanked the students for participating in the program, and said they had some additional awards, shining gold medallions hung on red, white, and blue ribbons.
“For this next set of awards, it was tough to pick, but Officer Shaw and I have been monitoring you guys as we teach and paying attention to who raises their hand, answers questions, and participates in the program. That’s the only way it will work, when you students work the program and apply it to your life. It was tough to pick just 10 of you that stood out, but we did, and we’d like to acknowledge you now,” he said. “You guys really participated in the program, and we appreciate that.”
The names of ten students were announced, and they filed forward to receive their medallions: Eli Marler, Kade Drier, Conner Isringhausen, Makinzey Rieger, Jasper Parolin, Reid Burns, Kolt Greer, Canyon Hill, Silas Bunch, and Hunter Johnson
As the ceremony concluded, students expressed their appreciation for the program and the officers’ guidance. Many took advantage of photo opportunities to capture the memory alongside their favorite SRO’s.
Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a Daily Journal and Farmington Press staff writer. She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.
