Kids and parents can expect some new help when they cross the street on Gladstone Avenue 麻豆视频 after school.
Yorkdale Central School has launched a safety patrol program, which started on Oct. 19 as part of Education Week. Grade six students are decked out with reflective vests and carry mini-stop signs.
鈥淲e have a very busy intersection across from our school,鈥� said Renee Kindiak, a teacher at Yorkdale and organizer of the program. 鈥淲e thought Grade six [was] the right age when they can take the responsibility to help kids cross safely.鈥�
These crossing guards will be helping adults and students navigate the busy crosswalks near Yorkdale when school ends for the day. There will be teams positioned at the two crosswalks near Yorkdale.
The kids will be monitored by adults who will blow whistles to signal when pedestrians can cross the street. Kindiak hopes to eventually leave the whistle-blowing to the volunteer students and have the adults step back into a supervisorial role.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 been practicing that yet,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e thought we鈥檇 build to [it].
鈥淔or now we鈥檙e committed to having an adult with each of the teams out there. We鈥檒l see how they do.鈥�
Kindiak practiced drills with the students on the lunchbreak before their first official shift. She encouraged them to keep their signs up and to watch out for passing cars.
鈥淗opefully, [the community] will be mindful of what we鈥檙e trying to do,鈥� she said.
Kindiak started the safety patrol program to give Grade six students a leadership opportunity. Many Grade six students help supervise children in Grade four and below, so the patrol program is a natural next step.
鈥淲e were pleasantly surprised that kids want to do these kinds of things,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something they could contribute to their community.鈥�
If the safety patrol program needs more volunteers, Kindiak may open it up for Grade seven and eight students.聽 But she wants to keep the program within Grade six if possible.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a stepping stone for them,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e responsible enough to do it.
鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 the right fit.鈥�
