March 26, 2021 | Vol. 2 Iss. 013
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New program replaces DARE in Woods Cross elementary schools By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com
NOVA COVERS TOPICS like bullying, media, anger management, sexting and other life skills. Woods Cross police officers teach in sixth-grade classes once a week.
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WOODS CROSS—For many years the DARE program has been in schools teaching children how to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Now, the Woods Cross Police Department has implemented a new program called NOVA (Nurturing, Opportunities, Values and Accountability) that goes a step further in helping kids stay safe. “It’s more comprehensive than DARE,” said Woods Cross Police Det. Kimberly Burton. “It’s more lifestyle oriented instead of what DARE focused on which was drugs and alcohol. This covers things like bullying, media, anger management, pornography, e-cigarettes and a portion where we go over sexting. What I really like about NOVA is it is constantly updated.”
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NOVA was created by police officers in Orem, she said. “It’s a nonprofit made up of officers and a child psychologist. We can get support from any one of those individuals.” Burton teaches three different sixth grade classes once a week for 14 weeks at Woods Cross Elementary. “Each week we do an activity in conjunction with a topic,” she said. “For media I wanted them to recognize the feeling bad music causes. I gave them a sucker and told them they couldn’t swallow the spit. I told them the body creates a bad feeling when you can’t spit just like the feeling you get when you listen to bad music.” They also talk about what makes a hero. “I brought in puzzles that the kids have never seen,” Burton said. “I help them solve the puzzle and tell them that’s what heroes Please see NOVA: pg. 7
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