NELL HOLCOMB CLASS COMPLETES PROJECT CHARLIE

The Project Charlie program graduated a new class of students in its fight against drugs Tuesday at Nell Holcomb school.

Twenty-three fourth graders received special scrolls and certificates of completion from Corporal Kevin Orr of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and program volunteer Lois McFadden. Orr and McFadden visited the students for 30 minutes weekly during November and December as part of the program.

"We learned not to do drugs and to be nice to others, and to always give our classmates plenty of put ups," said Erin Mack, 10. She said a put up is a compliment given to help someone's self-esteem. The program also taught about the importance of friendship, and different methods of choosing friends, she said.

The students were McFadden's first as a volunteer. She said she became involved with Project Charlie in August after reading in the newspaper that the program needed volunteers. The program is important, she said, because it touches children's lives in a number of areas.

"We're not necessarily teaching kids to say no, but we are also helping them to make good decisions about drugs, sex and other things they will see on a daily basis," McFadden said. "If I can help just one of these kids stay away from drugs, then it's worth it."

During the graduation exercises, students performed several skits to show what they had learned. As they received their certificates, they presented Officer Orr with contracts stating they promised to remain drug-free.

"I'm going to keep these, and in six years I'm going to come back and see how you all are doing," Officer Orr told the students.

He told them several years ago he had a class with two students who didn't seem very interested in the program.

"Four years later, guess who I ended up arresting," he said. Orr told the students he hoped he never had to see them in a police station and remind them of the day they signed contracts saying they would remain drug-free.

McFadden said she and the teachers had made a special scroll for each new graduate of the program to remind them of their self-worth and importance, both of which are important aspects of Project Charlie.

"Each scroll has things written about that child that tells what makes them special," McFadden said. "We gave them these to that each one can go home and say 'I'm special because I have a nice smile,' or because they are good in art, or whatever.

"It's important to build them up so they can be prepared to meet challenges when it's time."