WAYNE – Important lessons are being learned this summer at John F. Kennedy Elementary School where kids entering kindergarten this fall are taking part in a public safety program.
Around 200 kids are signed up for this year’s Safety Town, which is broken up into two sessions each running two weeks with 100 kids at a time. Classes run Monday through Friday for an hour and a half.
About 150 students hailing from the district’s middle and high schools have volunteered to be counselors helping out instructors Eileen McQuade and Susan Decter.
Safety Town is a program aimed at familiarizing pre-kindergarten kids with various concepts of safety. Funded through the Board of Education, the program is 30 years old.
Part of JFK’s parking lot is utilized as a makeshift Wayne Township complete with local businesses that the kids can identify with including Toys ‘R’ Us, T-Bowl, Scuffy’s Pet Center, and Outback Steakhouse. Miniature street signs signify roadways and corners for kids learning how to cross the street safely holding a volunteer’s hand.
According to Decter, as part of his Eagle Scout project, Ryan Gross helped to reconstruct and update the makeshift town.
“He did a fantastic job for us. It looks terrific,” Decter said.
Each year the children are introduced to various facets of first aid and the importance of emergency phone numbers and tour the inside of an ambulance. Wayne’s Community Policing Division also speaks to the kids about bicycle and pedestrian safety and they also get a visit from the Wanaque Police K-9 Unit.
New this year to the program is a pharmacist from CVS talking about poison control and a representative from NJ Transit sharing safety measures around the township’s numerous train stations.
“The program is excellent for the kids and they seem to have a great time,” said Decter.
Learning the layout of a busy street is important for children to grasp the concept of. While riding around the makeshift Wayne on Big Wheels they gain understanding to the necessity of stop and yield signs amongst other things. Counselors holding a child’s hand walk around the town teaching them to look both ways before crossing the street.
“It’s a win-win for the counselors too as they learn responsibility working with the kids and the kids really love them,” said McQuade.
The schools announce opportunities for Safety Town counselors and over the years it has become a popular summertime event.
“I like being with the kids and seeing how much they learn from the first day to the last day,” said a third year counselor.
For another counselor watching the kids learn to pay attention is great.
“They sing songs to learn the rules and it’s nice to see them go from not listening to listening and singing along,” said a first time counselor. “I like it though and I want to come back next year.”
Parents also give Safety Town the green light.
“My son comes home all excited everyday. They teach safety principals that as parents we tend to overlook. Actually they teach us the rules now at home,” said Natalia Wojcickyj.
Christina Cifalino agreed, “Everything they teach them is important at such a young age.”
E-mail: wintersd@northjersey.com
