Penn-Trafford students learn truth in D.A.R.E.

W.T. Supancic found out a lot has changed since he was a student at Harrison Park Elementary School.

A 2000 graduate of Penn-Trafford High School, Supancic spent the last 10 weeks at the district's five elementary schools talking to second- and fifth-graders about resisting drugs and violence through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, commonly known as D.A.R.E.

The 25-year-old patrolman with the Penn Township Police Department was surprised by what the fifth-graders told him during the class.

"Kids are smarter than you think," he said. "They know what it is and what it looks like. They know people who have used or people they should not hang around with already."

Still, they had a lot more to learn from Supancic, who recently completed training for the program through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

He said most of the students didn't realize how prevalent alcohol advertising is.

"They are surprised that $363 million in one year is on magazines alone," Supancic said, adding overall the number climbs to $1.4 billion in alcohol advertising.

Supancic covered many topics during the class including decision making, teaching children skills they need to recognize and to resist the subtle and overt pressures that may lead them to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

"We talk about what makes up a good friend and we talk about personal pressures that you put on yourself," Supancic said.

D.A.R.E., which was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, also covers age-appropriate information about inhalants, drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

With the second-graders, Supancic said he covered general safety, including stranger danger and gun safety. At the final class he introduced cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana.

Supancic, who visits the school wearing his uniform and all of his equipment, including his gun and Taser gun, found that many of the students were intimidated by him.

"Some of the kids, as soon as they hear police officer, they're scared automatically," he said. "That's not who I want to be. I want to break down the barriers between the kids and the police and get rid of the negative stereotype that the police are out to get you."

One way he accomplished that was by giving the children a chance to ask questions about all of the things he carries.

Any barriers left soon melted away on graduation day for fifth-graders when the patrolman led the youngsters in a lively rendition of the Cha Cha Slide.

Jessica Zavolta, a fifth-grader at Harrison Park Elementary school, said she had a great time at graduation.

"It was a lot of fun, and I had a blast," Jessica said.

Jessica was among four students at Harrison Park who were recognized for a report she wrote on the D.A.R.E. program.

She wrote: "I will make good choices for myself because I am an athlete and in order to fulfill my dreams I need to stay fit and healthy. I will not be ashamed to say 'No' even if my friends think it's cool."

The graduation included a certificate for each child and many prizes, which were donated by area businesses.

Penn Township police Chief Michael Mastroianni pointed out this is the 13th year the police force has worked with Penn-Trafford to present the program. Last year, however, the program was canceled because the officers who did the program were off because of injuries.

He was happy to see some parents took the time to attend the graduation.

"It validates for the kids that it's important enough for the parents to be here," Mastroianni said.