BERGHOLZ — John Gregg Elementary School has incorporated its Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and officially gotten underway with pupils learning how to make good decisions.

DARE works with students in grades kindergarden through 12th, with grade-appropriate subjects that include peer pressure, drug dangers and making good choices.

Ryan Gorby, a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, serves as the school’s resource officer and has concluded a four-week session with fourth graders.

Gorby has since begun programs with second- and sixth-grade classes. The fourth-grade program ran from Dec. 5 through Jan. 8, offering four sessions held before and after the holiday break due to weather-related school delays and cancellations.

The second-grade program includes two 20-minute sessions that are held each week, running from Jan. 13 through Feb. 4.

The sixth-grade program includes a 45-minute session that is planned to take place each week over a 10-week period, running from Jan. 16 through March 20, weather permitting.

Gorby, who is in his second year as the school’s resource officer, said the program’s themes are specifically tailored to each grade level. The sessions for sixth-graders will conclude with a graduation and DARE certification.

“We follow the DARE decision-making model and discuss how to make better choices,” he said. “We look at problem solving and how to define, assess, respond and evaluate.”

Gorby explained fourth-graders gain an understanding about bullying and recognizing harmful versus helpful drugs. Second-graders are learning about who to call during emergencies, how to follow directions, how to tell when things are safe by using senses and to be aware of what is going on around them. Meanwhile, sixth-grade students will learn about the affects of alcohol and vaping on young, developing bodies and minds; how to handle risky situations; how to make safe and responsible choices; resistance strategies; responding to social, peer and self-based pressure; how to identify stress and its effects on the body and communicate them to others and bullying.

“DARE is more encompassing,” Gorby said. “It’s not just about alcohol and drug use. It is more about becoming a better citizen.” He noted the response has been great.

“There’s been a really good response to the fourth-grade talk,” he said. “The amount of participation was incredible, considering it was my first class to teach.”

Gorby underwent DARE training in Columbus in September, along with other department deputies and local law enforcement officials, where they prepared to work with grades K-12, studying curriculum material and creating lesson plans to present to youth on topics ranging from 9-1-1 emergency calling to stranger danger. The trainees completed presentations at the academy before working with elementary children in the Columbus area.

Gorby said he will attend future sessions to gain updates on any changes in the curriculum.

“Every few years they revamp the curriculum and I’ll attend a DARE/SRO conference to discuss what we’re seeing in schools and program changes,” he said, noting there were potential hopes of expanding DARE programs into Stanton Elementary School and Edison Junior/Senior High School.

Gorby concluded he was enjoying his new role, which takes him out of his usual routine and puts him into the classroom.

“It gives me more one-on-one time with the kids,” he said. “I get to provide some knowledge to them and make a difference.”