- April 20, 2024
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Osceola Elementary students Sylvia Richards, Antonee McCall, Madison Fleischer, Summer O'Brien and Janielle Rudisill smile with OBPD's Chief Jesse Godfrey, Capt. D.W. Smith, City Manager Joyce Shanahan and OBPD Capt. Chris Roos.
Osceola Elementary student McKenzie Manhart hands a plate to OBPD Victim Advocate Evelyn Rebostini before the D.A.R.E. graduation on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
OBPD Officer Marianne Durkin speaks during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach City Manager Joyce Shanahan speaks during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
DARE Essay winner Ryan Seabrooks smiles with her certificate during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
OBPD Officer Marianne Durkin places a medal around DARE Essay winner Aneela Bien-Aime's neck during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
DARE Essay winner Aneela Bien-Aime smiles with her certificate during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
DARE Essay Winner Taylor Vinca smiles with her certificate during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
OBPD Officer Marianne Durkin smiles with Osceola Elementary teacher Shelby Seaman's fifth grade class during the D.A.R.E. graduation at Osceola Elementary on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Osceola Elementary fifth graders walked across their school's cafeteria stage to commemorate their graduation from the Ormond Beach Police Department D.A.R.E. program on Tuesday, Oct. 9.
Over 200 parents, siblings and other family members of the fifth graders attended the graduation. This year, the program was taught at Osceola by OBPD Officer Marianne Durkin, who thanked the fifth grade teachers for allowing her to come in the classroom, as well as the parents for the way they have raised their children. She said they talked about serious topics like bullying, saying no to drugs and resistance strategies.
"And I'm so proud of them because they have already been showing me how they're going to use that," Durkin said.
The graduation from D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, was Osceola Elementary fifth grade teacher Deborah Treur's idea. She thanked the Police Department for investing in the program. D.A.R.E. started in 1992 in the city.
"It's so important," Treur said. "These kids learn so much."
The fifth graders also received "keys to the city," by means of a special pin. City Manager Joyce Shanahan said the purpose of the pins is to remind students that they're learning the "keys" to be successful students and future leaders.
"So, every time you look at that key, we hope you are reminded that Ormond Beach feels that you're special and that you know that you're special when you wear that pin," Shanahan said.
Osceola Elementary Principal Lynn Bruner said that the graduation was like seeing things come full circle by showing support to the first responders. She said she was also excited for the support the event gathered.
"To me, the key for that is because parents are here watching," Bruner said. "The response has been huge."
