282 students at Haynes Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta have made a commitment to avoid the pressures and temptation of joining a gang. Following several weeks of specialized training from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the seventh grade class at Haynes Bridge will be recognized and honored for their accomplishments at a school graduation ceremony scheduled this Thursday.

G.R.E.A.T. stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training; a nationally recognized gang resistance program taught in forty-eight (48) states by uniformed law enforcement officers. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has been teaching G.R.E.A.T. in county middle schools since 1994. Deputy Tracey Bell, a certified G.R.E.A.T. instructor, taught the nine (9) week curriculum.

G.R.E.A.T. is designed to help middle school children become responsible members of their communities by; setting goals for themselves, resisting pressures, learning how to resolve conflicts, and understanding how gangs impact the quality of their lives.

The graduation program is scheduled for Thursday, February 14, 2002, at 12:15 p.m. in the school gymnasium. The program will last one hour. The theme for tomorrow’s graduation is “Being the Greatest”. Several students will speak on the subjects of Believing in Your Dreams, Getting Along With Others, and Never Giving Up. Graduate students will receive a G.R.E.A.T. t-shirt, and awards will be presented for outstanding achievement.

Haynes Bridge Middle School is located at 10665 Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta.