|
|
|
 As a student Debbie Merchant was part of the Safety Patrol for three years. Here are her memories of the program. "The school Safety Patrol program operated for many years and was organized by Bill Farnham. It was made up of grade 6, 7 and 8 students. Their job was to get students safely across the street. They couldn't stop traffic, rather they put out their arms and stopped students from crossing until the traffic had cleared. Two safety patrol member were at each of the four corners around the school. At that time Grey street went all the way through the school yard with houses all along what is school yard. Two members were also down on the corner of Spruce and Mead (by what was Andy Ellis' house). If you were on the morning shift you needed to be at your corner at 8:40 or 8:45 (I can't remember how early you had to be there but I think it was 15 minutes before school started and was dismissed ), 11:30 to get the kindergarten kids home and again at 12:00 when everyone went home for lunch. If you were on the afternoon shift you only did 1:30 and 4:00. Your shift changed each week, morning to afternoon to a week off. Each week you shifted to a different corner. Each squad had a captain and a lieutenant who circulated to make sure you were there and doing your job. I was a part of the program for three years. When I was in grade six I won the award as best grade six patrol member. Bill Farnham drove five of us ( Jacquie Tarnowski and Linda Leonard were two of the four) to Ottawa to a national jamboree of School Patrol members. I remember we got to meet Governor General Vanier and we went to the Mint."  John Shepitka added his memories, "I
was in grade 8 1959-60. ... I'm assuming it was
open to Grades 7&8.....it was well organized
by Bill Farnham.....for the safety of students
walking to school.....the main concern was
students crossing streets so patrol members were
stationed at corners on one side of the road in
the morning and the other side of the street going
home...our noon hour was an hour and a half and
most students went home for lunch.....the patrol
members picked up their belts/sash at school and
went to their post early.....left their post when
the bell rang.....there was a captain and I think
2 lieutenants...... I know my job was to take
attendance and go from corner to corner.....the
patrol got to go on a picnic to Fairbanks at the
end of the year."
|