The six classes of fifth graders at the Perry Elementary School and the fifth graders from St. Patrick’s Catholic School will gather with their families Monday at the Perry Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.
The occasion will be the annual graduation ceremony for the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The program is offered in 10 lesson plans by Officer Pat Jans of the Perry Police Department.
Each student was asked to write a brief essay about what they learned in the program, with the winner from each class receiving a special prize as well as having their essay read aloud at the event.
DARE Iowa provides funds for the lesson materials and t-shirts, but all other items, including the gifts each child receives, come exclusively from local, private donations, as neither the Perry Police Department nor the schools help fund the program.
Those wishing to help defray costs and support the ongoing efforts of DARE can send donations of any size to Perry DARE in care of the Perry Police Department at 908 Willis Ave., or simply drop off a donation at the department’s front desk.
