Whatever happened to D.A.R.E.?

Today was Celestra's N.O.V.A. graduation. This is the program that has replaced DARE in her school district. (I'm not sure about everywhere else) It is run similar to DARE with an officer teaching the program but the subject matter is a lot broader than just drugs. It seems like a great program and Celestra really enjoyed it. In fact, she told me on the way home today, that she was sad the program was over because she had so much fun with it.

Well for all of us uninformed parents and family members, here are the basics on N.O.V.A. (or at least what I picked up from the graduation. I am sure Celestra will correct me if I get anything wrong!)


N=Nurturing
This means family care and people showing the way, helping others
O=Opportunities
Good things that come your way
V=Values
Things that are important to you
A=Accountability
Taking responsibility for your choices and actions

Nova covered things from resisting drugs to choosing good friends, trying to have good self esteem, and many other ideas to help the children through the hard years ahead. All that fun puberty that is coming their way in the next few years. And that is the program in, a really, really small, nutshell.

Back to the graduation, Celestra wanted some pictures with her friends so here you go, Cele with a couple of her good friends from school and then with Officer Bird, her NOVA teacher.
Congrats Cele on your graduation!

{Celestra with Esther Russ}

{Cele with her best friend Elisa Brown}

{Cele with Officer Bird}

And so now you know what happened to DARE!