Sycamore Elementary has students who want to step up as they participate in the school’s newly formed AAA Student Safety Patrol Team.
Sycamore Elementary Principal Deborah Robbins said the safety patrol team is made up of fourth graders who are dedicated to helping their fellow classmates. Robbins said the school had a similar team in the past, and School Resource Officer Ed Ocasio went to work to bring it back. Robbins said the team has been a huge asset since its return.
“It’s helped the flow of our car line, keeps people from stopping in the middle of our car line to get out. They’re helping with that,” Robbins said. “They are helping with students in the hallway, making sure that they’re not running down the hallway. They are in the areas they’re supposed to be in, which is the gym and the cafeteria. So they have just been a huge help to us.”
Robbins said the students who participate on the safety are learning valuable leadership skills. Robbins said younger students look up to them as they set the standard not only for good behavior but also learning in the classroom.
“Leadership skills are a big one because we have told them that, you know, your behavior is across the board,” Robbins said. “Like, you have to show that you’re on the safety patrol in everything that you do. So, we expect you in classrooms to be following the rules. We expect you to be the one that, you know, everyone else looks to in the building. You are a fourth grader. You are on the safety team. That when people see you, other students see you, they should be seeing how everyone else should be acting. So, we’ve held them to a higher standard.”
Robbins said they selected students based on an application process. She noted that many students applied to be apart of the team but not all were selected. Robbins said that the school has applied for a grant that could allow the team to consist of more students.
“It is those downtimes cafeteria playground where you start seeing those behaviors more so if we can even expand into those areas and have them step up in those areas that would make a huge huge impact I feel like on the school and just every in just the culture of it,” Robbins said.
Robbins said Sycamore Elementary has noticed a difference in behavior amongst students.
