Look both ways before you cross the street. It's one of the basics that parents teach their children about being safe. Yet traffic injuries happen every day – which is why three elementaries and one parochial school in Mexico have safety patrols dedicated to the safety of their fellow students.
School Safety Patrol members are select elementary students who volunteer to guide and protect their classmates against traffic hazards. The official School Safety Patrol program was organized in 1920 by the American Automobile Association.
Eugene Field currently has 33 students enrolled in its fifth-grade program. McMillan has 18, and Hawthorne has 19. St. Brendan Catholic School's patrol is operated by 15 students that rotate their duties weekly throughout the school year.
Millions, including U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, Decathlon Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner, Chief of Staff and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Andrew Card, former chairman of Chrysler Corporation Lee Iacocca, Miss America 1954 Margeret Ay, and a host of other governors, U.S. senators, astronauts, and baseball hall of famers, have served as safety patrol members in the U.S., and in 30 other nations.
"Safety Patrol is a good program that teaches students how to be safety conscious and responsible citizens," said Mexico Public Safety Officer Russell Sing, one of the school district's two resource officers, responsible for training the safety patrols. The training involves classroom instruction, a multiple choice safety test and a hands-on session that familiarizes the students with safety issues.
"We talk to them about crosswalk safety, making sure that they look both ways before letting anyone cross the street, and how to keep an eye out for vehicles, making sure that they come to a complete stop before letting the kids cross. Things like that," Officer Sing explained. Sing conducts the training program at all three Mexico elementary schools. Eugene Field students received training last Wednesday and posted their patrols on Monday. McMillan is set to start training Thursday, and Hawthorne begins Sept. 17.
"Our services are open to all of the schools requesting training," Sing said. "Part of our service to the public is to promote and encourage safety.
"And, the most enjoyable part of my job is getting to know the kids and seeing the ones that really make a difference, grow into responsible young adults."
Eugene Field opens its safety patrol to any interested fifth-grader. The students signed up for the program during the school's August open house, and more were still signing up the week school started. Parental permission is required for participation. Safety patrols are selected based on a student's grades, behavior and being responsible. Morning patrols start at 7:30 a.m., and last about 20-25 minutes at the most. The afternoon posts are from 3-3:35 p.m.
"The kids are responsible for being on time and where they're supposed to be, and acting accordingly while on duty," said Family Involvement Coordi-nator Daniel Nunnelly. Posted on West Street, Green Boulevard and Groves Street, Eugene Field's safety patrol wear yellow vests, carry flags or signs with red flashers (for inclement weather) and marked with 'stop.' The students rotate duties every two weeks, with different groups each morning and night, and in addition to guarding the crosswalks, they're also responsible for the bike racks as well.
"Our patrol is responsible for quite a bit. They have to be there in all types of weather, unless it's really cold, raining or lightning. And, we have a lot of walkers, so that makes their responsibility even greater," Nunnelly noted. "But we always, always remind them, safety first."
Nunnelly said the students have the ability to record the license of school zone violators, but it's sometimes hard for them to record all the necessary information. "We tell them that's why police are out there; to deal with issues like that. So far, no incidents have been reported, which means the program must be working."
McMillan Safety Patrol adviser Ruth Nash says nearly half of the school's fifth-graders make up their patrol. She and her co-representative Jessica Swaim man the student schedules, that change monthly. Their students sign a pledge, promising to report for duty on time, always strive to prevent accidents, and always obey teachers and officers, and set a good example. The patrols are on duty from 7:30-7:50 a.m., and from 3-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, wearing bright, neon shoulder vests and carrying large red and white flags, provided by AAA Auto.
"It really is a commitment. In addition to their duties and responsibilities, the kids also need to make sure they have alternate transportation when their job is done," Nash said.
As an incentive, Nash said patrol members receive discount coupons for Six Flags, and receive certificates at the closing ceremony of school.
"For them it's really sort of a right of passage at the end of their elementary career. I believe they have a sense of pride about it. They feel like they are giving something back to their school."
Hawthorne Elementary and St. Brendan also have safety patrols. Hawthorne students receive their training at the end of their fourth-grade year, and St. Brendan's program is manned by its seventh-graders.
By starting their training in the fourth grade, Hawthorne's safety patrol has the opportunity to shadow the fifth grade students, and observe them at their individual posts.
"This allows them to get experience at each post before school is out," said Hawthorne Family Involvement Coordinator Julie Talley, who co-sponsors with school recess aide, Keila Burts. "What the patrol does is a service to the other students and the school, because they are helping to keep kids safe.
"And, it's also an honor for the patrol kids. They have been selected because they are good citizens and responsible individuals. They are the role models for the younger kids."
Hawthorne patrol hours start at 7:55 a.m. for the morning shift, and patrol members are released from classes at 2:45 p.m. for the afternoon guard. The students wear yellow vests and hold stop signs at the crosswalk, exit and entrance driveways. During the afternoon patrol, they can also be seen at Curtis and Concordia streets (down from the school), to assist children crossing.
Talley said the school has had some issues with motorists not stopping for the safety patrol.
"Sometimes people don't want to stop, which is why we always tell our kids not to stop traffic, wait for traffic to stop for them. Then walk to the designated areas. We do this to keep them safe."
At the end of the school year, Talley said, Hawthorne generally holds a bowling party to recognize the safety patrol for its service.
St. Brendan safety patrol started training the first two days of school. The morning patrol is responsible for walkers and patrolling the parking lot, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The afternoon shift is from 3:10-3:15 p.m. They wear neon green shoulder belts, carry stop signs, and have ponchos for inclement weather. Their incentive for serving on the patrol is a seat at a Cardinal's baseball game in the spring.
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Look both ways before you cross the street. It's one of the basics that parents teach their children about being safe. Yet traffic injuries happen every day – which is why three elementaries and one parochial school in Mexico have safety patrols dedicated to the safety of their fellow students.
School Safety Patrol members are select elementary students who volunteer to guide and protect their classmates against traffic hazards. The official School Safety Patrol program was organized in 1920 by the American Automobile Association.
Eugene Field currently has 33 students enrolled in its fifth-grade program. McMillan has 18, and Hawthorne has 19. St. Brendan Catholic School's patrol is operated by 15 students that rotate their duties weekly throughout the school year.
Millions, including U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, Decathlon Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner, Chief of Staff and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Andrew Card, former chairman of Chrysler Corporation Lee Iacocca, Miss America 1954 Margeret Ay, and a host of other governors, U.S. senators, astronauts, and baseball hall of famers, have served as safety patrol members in the U.S., and in 30 other nations.
"Safety Patrol is a good program that teaches students how to be safety conscious and responsible citizens," said Mexico Public Safety Officer Russell Sing, one of the school district's two resource officers, responsible for training the safety patrols. The training involves classroom instruction, a multiple choice safety test and a hands-on session that familiarizes the students with safety issues.
"We talk to them about crosswalk safety, making sure that they look both ways before letting anyone cross the street, and how to keep an eye out for vehicles, making sure that they come to a complete stop before letting the kids cross. Things like that," Officer Sing explained. Sing conducts the training program at all three Mexico elementary schools. Eugene Field students received training last Wednesday and posted their patrols on Monday. McMillan is set to start training Thursday, and Hawthorne begins Sept. 17.
"Our services are open to all of the schools requesting training," Sing said. "Part of our service to the public is to promote and encourage safety.
"And, the most enjoyable part of my job is getting to know the kids and seeing the ones that really make a difference, grow into responsible young adults."
Eugene Field opens its safety patrol to any interested fifth-grader. The students signed up for the program during the school's August open house, and more were still signing up the week school started. Parental permission is required for participation. Safety patrols are selected based on a student's grades, behavior and being responsible. Morning patrols start at 7:30 a.m., and last about 20-25 minutes at the most. The afternoon posts are from 3-3:35 p.m.
"The kids are responsible for being on time and where they're supposed to be, and acting accordingly while on duty," said Family Involvement Coordi-nator Daniel Nunnelly. Posted on West Street, Green Boulevard and Groves Street, Eugene Field's safety patrol wear yellow vests, carry flags or signs with red flashers (for inclement weather) and marked with 'stop.' The students rotate duties every two weeks, with different groups each morning and night, and in addition to guarding the crosswalks, they're also responsible for the bike racks as well.
"Our patrol is responsible for quite a bit. They have to be there in all types of weather, unless it's really cold, raining or lightning. And, we have a lot of walkers, so that makes their responsibility even greater," Nunnelly noted. "But we always, always remind them, safety first."
Nunnelly said the students have the ability to record the license of school zone violators, but it's sometimes hard for them to record all the necessary information. "We tell them that's why police are out there; to deal with issues like that. So far, no incidents have been reported, which means the program must be working."
McMillan Safety Patrol adviser Ruth Nash says nearly half of the school's fifth-graders make up their patrol. She and her co-representative Jessica Swaim man the student schedules, that change monthly. Their students sign a pledge, promising to report for duty on time, always strive to prevent accidents, and always obey teachers and officers, and set a good example. The patrols are on duty from 7:30-7:50 a.m., and from 3-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, wearing bright, neon shoulder vests and carrying large red and white flags, provided by AAA Auto.
"It really is a commitment. In addition to their duties and responsibilities, the kids also need to make sure they have alternate transportation when their job is done," Nash said.
As an incentive, Nash said patrol members receive discount coupons for Six Flags, and receive certificates at the closing ceremony of school.
"For them it's really sort of a right of passage at the end of their elementary career. I believe they have a sense of pride about it. They feel like they are giving something back to their school."
Hawthorne Elementary and St. Brendan also have safety patrols. Hawthorne students receive their training at the end of their fourth-grade year, and St. Brendan's program is manned by its seventh-graders.
By starting their training in the fourth grade, Hawthorne's safety patrol has the opportunity to shadow the fifth grade students, and observe them at their individual posts.
"This allows them to get experience at each post before school is out," said Hawthorne Family Involvement Coordinator Julie Talley, who co-sponsors with school recess aide, Keila Burts. "What the patrol does is a service to the other students and the school, because they are helping to keep kids safe.
"And, it's also an honor for the patrol kids. They have been selected because they are good citizens and responsible individuals. They are the role models for the younger kids."
Hawthorne patrol hours start at 7:55 a.m. for the morning shift, and patrol members are released from classes at 2:45 p.m. for the afternoon guard. The students wear yellow vests and hold stop signs at the crosswalk, exit and entrance driveways. During the afternoon patrol, they can also be seen at Curtis and Concordia streets (down from the school), to assist children crossing.
Talley said the school has had some issues with motorists not stopping for the safety patrol.
"Sometimes people don't want to stop, which is why we always tell our kids not to stop traffic, wait for traffic to stop for them. Then walk to the designated areas. We do this to keep them safe."
At the end of the school year, Talley said, Hawthorne generally holds a bowling party to recognize the safety patrol for its service.
St. Brendan safety patrol started training the first two days of school. The morning patrol is responsible for walkers and patrolling the parking lot, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The afternoon shift is from 3:10-3:15 p.m. They wear neon green shoulder belts, carry stop signs, and have ponchos for inclement weather. Their incentive for serving on the patrol is a seat at a Cardinal's baseball game in the spring.
