School Safety Patrol
Purpose:
To encourage and model safe pedestrian behaviour to students and the school community.
Description:
A School Safety Patrol is usually formed as a team of student volunteer patrollers, supervised by a teacher or school principal. Student safety patrollers help their peers to safely navigate the busy environment around the school site at the beginning and end of each school day. The patrollers encourage and model safe behaviour to their peers and the broader community.
Patrollers wear bright-coloured vests for visibility and are trained to monitor school crossings near their school (foot patrollers), or to help student passengers getting on and off the school bus (bus patrollers). By participating in a School Safety Patrol, students learn leadership skills, confidence, and independence.
What you will need:
– A teacher, principal or other member school staff to act as Patrol Supervisor;
– Training materials to prepare student volunteers;
– Map of patrol locations;
– Schedule of patrol shifts;
– High-visibility vests for students and supervisors; and
– Prizes/rewards for students participating in the patrol.
Help:
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has a registered School Safety Patrol program that has been operating in Canada for almost 100 years – see Resources below.
The other organisations that can help a school with setting-up and running a School Safety Patrol are:
– Local police services;
– Municipality;
– School Board; and
– Student Transportation Consortium.
Resources:
The CAA School Safety Patrol® Program
Tip: Search “CAA Student Safety Patrol Program” and the name of your province to find your local program.
