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What is a School Safety Patrol Program?

School Safety Patrols are composed of volunteer boys and girls from upper elementary grades and junior high/middle school. Students are positioned on street corners around the country to protect fellow students from the hazards of crossing roads and highways on their way to and from school.

School Safety Patrols direct children, not traffic. Patrols also help bus drivers safely transport students to and from schools. As school-age leaders in traffic safety, patrols help teach other students about traffic safety on a peer-to-peer basis. They also serve as role models to the younger children who look up to them.

Patrol service is considered part of the educational activities administered by school officials, who authorize the School Safety Patrol program. A teacher usually serves as patrol supervisor. Teachers and principals appoint members. Students must obtain parent or guardian permission to participate in the program. Selected students are then carefully trained regarding traffic safety principles and their specific duties. After training is completed, patrols are awarded badges and official fluorescent orange School Safety Patrol style belts to identify them as patrols to other students and motorists.

Patrol members must be at their designated posts every school day according to the duty schedule, arriving early every morning before school and staying at their posts after classes end. Patrol members pledge to faithfully carry out their duties and to demonstrate safety principles. The rest of the student body is instructed regarding the duties of patrol members and cooperation with the patrol through classroom instruction and assemblies.

National policies and practices, established by organizations concerned with education and child safety, form the basis for uniform and safe operation of a School Safety Patrol.

To ensure safe operation, daily inspections and group operations reviews are conducted by a patrol captain and one or more patrol lieutenants chosen by the patrol supervisor.

At Cambridge Elementary, we are very proud of our Student Safety Patrol members. Please watch out for them and support their efforts in providing safety and order to our school.