Spotlight on Safety Patrol

Safety Patrol member Niko Plum Cuba guards first grader Miles Abbas-Clark and his family during school drop-off time.

Have you ever wondered what's the story behind the kids you see guarding intersections at the beginning and end of the school day?  Read on to learn about Safety Patrol, a group of Lucas sixth graders who have dedicated themselves to ensuring the safety of Lucas students and families.

Safety Patrol is made up of rotating teams.  Members are assigned a week of duty during which they need to arrive at school by 7:25 and stay until 3:05.  After that week is done, another team takes over.  This year there are six teams, so each member only serves one week and then has a five-week break.  In order to remain members, students must not have multiple office referrals or unexcused absences.  Second-grade teacher Mr. Turnquist has been the group sponsor for the last three years, when he took over for Mr. Moore.  He does his best to be supportive of Safety Patrol members, filling in for them in case of illness or other conflicts.  He says that members have been very loyal and responsible overall.

Mr. Turnquist provides training to the Safety Patrol members, showing them the five different points around the school where they will serve.  He uses a rotating schedule, so each member can work a variety of locations.  It also helps him identify the needs that arise due to absences.

Mr. Turnquist rewards the members' hard work with hot chocolate and marshmallows on the Friday of their assigned week during the winter months.  The students also celebrate with a pizza and movie party at the end of the year.

Niko Plum Cuba remembers seeing Safety Patrol members when he was younger.  "[They made] me think, 'Hey, I would like to do that,'" he says.  While he doesn't enjoy getting up at 6:15, he appreciates the hot chocolate after his cold morning assignments.  Katy Harmsen advises future Safety Patrol members to "DRESS WARMLY IN THE WINTER!"

Safety Patrol members do not go out into the street and cannot stop traffic, but they protect pedestrians by holding their arms out and waiting for the intersection to clear before signaling to the students that it is safe to cross.  In certain areas, such as Willow Street, visibility is difficult.  In that location, Safety Patrol members work in pairs, one stationed on top of the hill and the other at the crosswalk.  They then signal to one another to communicate when it the coast is clear for pedestrians.  

Katy doesn't mind the extra work that comes with being assigned to the Willow Street station.  "I like helping at Willow Street because a lot of my friends cross there," she says.  Niko agrees that there are fun aspects to the job, such as the time he sang Star Wars while on duty.  Lila Tallman encourages future sixth graders to join safety patrol, because it's a fun way to contribute to your school.  Sometimes others even pitch in.  Ilan Tallman remembers when "someone in an orange coat [was] pointing out his hand at passing cars and screaming, 'It's a crosswalk!'"

It can also be a dangerous job.  Katy remembers a time when a parent ran over her friend's foot!  Fortunately, the parent was riding a bike and not driving a car.  It can be frustrating to Safety Patrol members when kids (and adults!)  don't follow their guidelines.   Remember, they're doing their best to keep the students safe.  Their motto is "Let's go save some lives!"  Let's all help them in this goal and respect the extra work they put in to support our kids.