HMS Citizens School teaches 2nd graders safety

by Angela Feingold, Coordinator
Safe Kids Henderson-Vance

Henderson Middle School Safe Kids Apprentices and Instructors

Back Row — Officer J. West, Safe Kids Henderson-Vance, Meghan Cunningham, Citizens Schools Teacher, Terrence Branche, Angelique Fields, Juan Yanez, Santrel Puryear, Markus Hargrove, Dwayne Cheek, Connie Terry, Citizens Schools Teacher, Lt. M. King, Safe Kids Henderson-Vance.

Front Row — Lt. J. Proctor, Safe Kids Henderson-Vance, Joshua Boyd, Abria Lewis, Alfredo Rodriquez, Zkaria Little, SPO A. Feingold, Safe Kids Henderson-Vance, Michael Alston.

On April 24, 2009, twelve students from Henderson Middle School’s Citizens School program went to E. M. Rollins Elementary School to teach what they had learned about safety to the second grade classes.

Twelve students completed their Safe Kids Apprenticeship for Citizen Schools. The apprenticeship consisted of one session a week for ten weeks.

Students spent six sessions learning about helmet safety, fire safety, water safety, seat belt safety, gun safety, and poisons. Their Citizen Teacher was Senior Police Officer Angela Feingold of the Henderson Police Department who is also the Coordinator of Safe Kids Henderson-Vance. Other Safe Kids members served as guest instructors. These included Lt. Michelle King of the Henderson Fire Department, Chuck Elgin of the North Carolina Underwater Rescue Team, and Anne Williams of the Five County Mental Health Authority.

The students and instructors pent three sessions putting together presentations and then practicing their presentations.

The Safe Kids guest instructors along with Feingold, Lt. Jody Proctor and Officer Jessica West, both of the Henderson Police Department, and Bradley Lloyd assisted the students in the classroom.

Each Citizens School apprentice had to teach their area of safety expertise to each of the four second grade classes. The younger students learned how to properly wear their seatbelts, bicycle helmets, and personal flotation devices. They learned what to do in case of a fire, and what they should do and not do if they find an unattended firearm.

Helmet Winners

Back Row – Dylan West, Cody Boyd, Aniya Miles, Tashiana Davis, Precious Perry, I’La Alston, Ty’lin Owens, and Dwayne Alston

Front Row — Trinity Marrow, Jahiree Allen, Pio Arias, Donte’ Bagby, Ulexus Eaton, Quavon Champion, and Jakiya Branch

After learning about helmet safety, the students were entered for a chance to win a bicycle helmet. Sixteen students won a free bicycle helmet. Each student was also given a bag full of educational and safety material, as well as promotional items.