When Hildreth Elementary associate principal Gretchen Henry visited principal Linda Dwight’s former school as part of the principal search committee, she was very impressed with what she saw. For Henry, the thing that stood out the most was the school-wide safety patrol program.
“When I saw the student safety patrol there, I knew that it was something that I wanted to see at HES,” Henry said.
In October, her wish came true when 20 students were sworn in as the first members of the Hildreth Elementary Safety Patrol by Harvard Police Chief Ed Denmark. The national program was developed by AAA, the automotive club, which also supplied the sashes, pins, and training and support materials to be used by the school.
For membership consideration, students were required to meet certain criteria set by the school. First, only fifth-grade students were eligible to apply. They were required to complete an application and write an essay answering questions about why they wanted to be safety patrol members and what it means to be a role model.
The applications were then reviewed by a committee that consisted of faculty members Dwight, Christine Reale, Barbi Kelley, Judy Moore, Beth Cregan, and Rob Cullinane. Although 20 members started the program, seven additional members were chosen to begin in December.
Selected candidates then went through training with Safety Patrol faculty leader and elementary school guidance counselor Christine Reale, who asked them questions like, “What do you do if there is a problem?”
According to Reale, in order for the program to remain true to its mission, “Students will need to complete additional training throughout the school year and provide periodic assessments from their teachers confirming that they are living up to their leadership responsibilities.”
The catalyst for implementing a safety patrol at Hildreth Elementary came from Dr. Dwight, and it has been well received by students and teachers alike.
Third-grade teacher and Safety Patrol committee member Judy Moore views the Safety Patrol “as an example of good citizenship in action.”
“Kids get to see other kids in a leadership role being role models,” Moore said. “It begins an overt process of putting the responsibility for good actions and behaviors onto the shoulders of our kids.”
That was exactly the reaction Dwight said she was striving for.
“The Safety Patrol program gives our oldest students the chance to become role models for younger students in the school,” Dwight said. “When the younger students see the sash, they know that this older student has agreed to help them out. It builds a strong and recognizable buddy system.”
The sash she refers to is bright yellow and can’t be missed by the younger students when patrol members are there to assist.
“Members have the same morning and afternoon post,” Dwight said. “The posts will change about every eight weeks. They help with different areas of the school for arrival and dismissal. Four Safety Patrol members go to the kindergarten classes to help the little ones with their backpacks, coats, and supplies. Others greet at the front or back doors. They monitor hallways and keep students from running up and down the ramps. They are also on the lookout for positive behavior and will recognize it in the form of a drop [the school-wide recognition program].”
The program has become popular with many of the younger students who are anxiously awaiting fifth grade for their opportunity to apply. Fifth-grade student and Safety Patrol member Allie Hunter encourages them to do just that.
“The younger kids really seem to enjoy us being there,” she said. “They are always smiling at me. Most of the kids think it is pretty cool to be able to help out around the school. I think it is great to be a good role model. I like watching out for them, helping them hang up their backpacks, and tying their shoes. I get to watch out for myself and others.”
