News
Pinewood's Safety Patrol wears its sashes proudly
February 2008
Each
month, six responsible fifth grade students are chosen by Pinewood
teachers to be part of the Pinewood Safety Patrol team for one
month.
During that month, these students have many responsibilities. They
are expected to act as role models for other students and exemplify
responsible, safe and appropriate behavior at bus dismissal time.
“We help kids find their bus and tell them to stop running,” said
Jonah Amell, Pinewood fifth grade student and Safety Patrol member.
“We learn how to take care of kids so they don’t get hurt.”
Pinewood Assistant Principal Deborah Kavanaugh works with the Safety
Patrol students each month.
“The Safety Patrol’s presence reminds other students to slow down,”
said Kavanaugh. “Sometimes I purposely go out at dismissal a little
late so I can see how well they’re doing without me. Needless to
say, they always do a wonderful job.”
Each month, the new Safety Patrol team gets their safety sash. A lot
of students bring the sash home with them; they just have to make
sure to bring it back to school the next day.
During training, the new team learns about responsibility and how to
give direction to others in a calm manner. At the end of the month,
new members shadow a current Safety Patrol member for the day.
“The ‘handing off’ from one Safety Patrol to the next is what makes
this program special,” adds Kavanaugh. “Students teach their peers
about safety and how to treat others, which enforces their learning
even further.”
“I was on the ‘Safety Patrol’ in fifth and sixth grade, too,” said
Mohonasen Director of Security Jeff Jackson. “Pinewood’s Safety
Patrol is important because there are more eyes to ‘see it, hear it,
and report it.’ It also gives the patrol member a sense of ownership
of the school.”
“My friends think it is really cool that I’m on the Safety Patrol,”
said fifth grade student Alyse Archambault. “I like helping out
people.”
