A Day Out With the CAA School Safety Patrol® Program
CAA Magazine spent the day with two School Safety Patrollers to learn about what they do, how the program works and why they love helping keep their community safe.
By Anne Marshall | Original photography by David Lipnowski
September is a busy time in Manitoba schools — and on Manitoba’s roads. Students, parents and other pedestrians who pass through school zones quickly learn that between the buses, the student drop-offs and the no-stopping zones, safely navigating the streets around schools can be a challenge. That’s why the CAA School Safety Patrol® (SSP) program was launched in Manitoba in 1936: to help students travel safely to and from school and promote safer communities.
If you’re in a Manitoba school zone where the program is implemented, you’ll see CAA School Safety Patrollers in their bright green vests, monitoring crosswalks as students travel to and from school. The training, the skills, the responsibility and the sense of pride attached to wearing that vest are things only a patroller can really explain, so CAA Magazine went straight to the source, spending the day with patrollers and the organizers of the SSP program at a Manitoba school.
The bright green CAA School Safety Patrol® vest (background); Jenylyn prepares to take her patrol post.
“By providing that visible presence, School Safety Patrollers make sure that we’re going to be safe when crossing the streets.”
Faraday School in Winnipeg has been part of the SSP program since it launched in Manitoba. Over the years, patrollers have embraced the role of keeping their school community safe — and the responsibility that comes with it. The school’s SSP program recruits student volunteers every spring. They ensure the commute to school includes a safe crossing experience for their peers and younger classmates each day. Jenylyn, a Grade 6 patroller in her second year with the SSP program, says that being a patroller has helped her learn to make quick, confident decisions when it comes to road safety. “I can tell when a car is stopping,” Jenylyn explains, “and I know when it’s safe to cross the street.” That’s very important, because as a patroller in a large city, Jenylyn and her fellow students at Faraday encounter nearly as much traffic as the average commuter. Responsible for ensuring crosswalk safety, patrollers act as a “gate” through which all pedestrians must pass. Beginning in what they call the “at ease” position, patrollers wait with flags behind their backs until a pedestrian or group of pedestrians approaches. Then, by assuming the recognizable “closed” and “open” physical stances and using hand, arm, foot and flag motions, they control the flow of pedestrians entering the roadway. In this way, they facilitate safe crossing for students, their families and all pedestrians in the community at morning bell, lunch and dismissal times. “Once I know someone’s [waiting] behind me or behind the other [patroller], I signal my partner to let them know I’m going to open so the kids can cross,” says Jenylyn. “I hold my flag at a 45-degree angle so the kids behind me don’t cross over me, and then I do one more check before I actually open. I turn my body to the side so they can go.” After ushering people safely through the crosswalk, patrollers resume the “at ease” position, placing their flags behind their backs again. “By providing that visible presence, School Safety Patrollers make sure that we’re going to be safe when crossing the streets,” explains Faraday School’s engagement officer, Constable Darrell Hees (Or Constable Darrell, as he’s known by the students). He oversees the SSP program for the Winnipeg Police Service. “And [that’s] not just for the other students in the schools, but for the adults in the area as well.”
“At Ease” Stance
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Patrollers wait with flags behind their backs until a pedestrian or group of pedestrians approaches.
“Open” Stance
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Standing sideways, right arm and flag extended, hand pivoted to face students, left arm motioning students to begin crossing.
Jenylyn, who trained as a patroller to help her community, says her favourite part is helping kids cross the street safely. The responsibility she and others have for ensuring safety in schools around Manitoba doesn’t faze her. Still, she cautions that the hours might be daunting to some. “I would say you should [only] become a morning patroller if you can actually wake up early and get [to school] on time.”
Her Grade 6 colleague, Raven, agrees that timekeeping can be challenging. At lunch break, the limited time available to eat between extracurricular activities and patrolling duties can make lunch a rush for the midday shift.
“There’s stuff happening [like] chess club and volleyball. You’ve got to eat really quick and then get ready for posts. And that’s why being a patroller is hard,” Raven explains — though he appears to consider these sacrifices worthwhile. Even with training and two years of active safety patrol experience under his vest, Raven’s face lights up when asked what he likes most about the job. “My favourite part of being a patroller is kids crossing to safety.”
The confidence and safety training instilled in patrollers like Raven and Jenylyn are part of why Constable Darrell is so proud of the program, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
“So many of the people that are [now] in law enforcement or other positions — even the mayor — have been patrollers. It shows that good community relations, responsibility and willingness to help the community start at a young age.” As Constable Darrell sees it, the SSP program provides youth a sense of accomplishment that continues into their adult lives.
“What I’ve learned over my time in this unit, which has been for four years, is the importance of the vests being recognized by the people out there,” he explains. “They are high visibility and quite often they will have toques that match. That brings that public recognition to them. And when we go to the schools, you can see that the kids are very excited and very proud to be wearing these things.”
Constable Darrell monitors his SSP units once or twice a week. Because safety patrolling is graded in Winnipeg schools (not for school marks but for the program), he also scores their performance. “At the end of the year, Winnipeg Police Service recognizes the best patroller teams from all the different regions in the city. So, we’re judging them throughout the year.” And he’s impressed with what he sees.
“It is such a positive thing to see the adults responding to the kids that are trying to keep the whole community safe,” he says.
The SSP program provides youth a sense of accomplishment that continues into their adult lives.
Constable Darrell teaching Jenylyn and Raven the proper crossing procedure.
CAA School Safety Patrollers in the “at ease” position, preventing students from crossing while cars drive through the crosswalk; Jenylyn changes position to let students cross the street; Jenylyn and Raven signal to the students that it is safe to cross the street; in their bright green vests, Jenylyn and Raven love helping to keep their community safe.
“They benefit from the program at our school by becoming leaders in the building.”
Russell Antymis teaches at Faraday and supervises the CAA School Safety Patrol program.
Once a patroller himself, Russell Antymis is a teacher and Faraday’s SSP program supervisor. Antymis has been supervising the program in Winnipeg schools for more than 20 years and believes it empowers the kids who sign up, transforming them into capable, self-assured young adults.
“They benefit from the program at our school by becoming leaders in the building. They are visible leaders for the younger kids, become very good speakers and they have confidence with their peers and other adults.”
Knowing that the program is turning 90 makes this year a very special one. “It’s important in our community to celebrate these milestones. We ended up taking our [patrollers] to the Festival du Voyageur. They had a beautiful ice sculpture for the 90th anniversary, and our kids were proud of being part of something that has lasted so long.”
And it’s not just school staff that appreciate the program — the school’s community embraces the SSP program and all of the benefits it has in the community. Constable Darrell adds, “For a program that was initiated by a teacher who just wanted to make sure that kids are getting to school safely to be around [for 90 years] is amazing.” CAA
Related stories
Celebrating 90 Years of Keeping Students Safe on Manitoba’s Streets
In the Zone: School Zone Safety 101
Students Take the Lead on CAA School Safety Patrol®
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“At Ease” Stance
Patrollers wait with flags behind their backs until a pedestrian or group of pedestrians approaches.
“Open” Stance
Standing sideways, right arm and flag extended, hand pivoted to face students, left arm motioning students to begin crossing.
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Jenylyn, who trained as a patroller to help her community, says her favourite part is helping kids cross the street safely. The responsibility she and others have for ensuring safety in schools around Manitoba doesn’t faze her. Still, she cautions that the hours might be daunting to some. “I would say you should [only] become a morning patroller if you can actually wake up early and get [to school] on time.”
Her Grade 6 colleague, Raven, agrees that timekeeping can be challenging. At lunch break, the limited time available to eat between extracurricular activities and patrolling duties can make lunch a rush for the midday shift.
“There’s stuff happening [like] chess club and volleyball. You’ve got to eat really quick and then get ready for posts. And that’s why being a patroller is hard,” Raven explains — though he appears to consider these sacrifices worthwhile. Even with training and two years of active safety patrol experience under his vest, Raven’s face lights up when asked what he likes most about the job. “My favourite part of being a patroller is kids crossing to safety.”
The SSP program provides youth a sense of accomplishment that continues into their adult lives.
Constable Darrell teaching Jenylyn and Raven the proper crossing procedure.
The confidence and safety training instilled in patrollers like Raven and Jenylyn are part of why Constable Darrell is so proud of the program, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
“So many of the people that are [now] in law enforcement or other positions — even the mayor — have been patrollers. It shows that good community relations, responsibility and willingness to help the community start at a young age.” As Constable Darrell sees it, the SSP program provides youth a sense of accomplishment that continues into their adult lives.
“What I’ve learned over my time in this unit, which has been for four years, is the importance of the vests being recognized by the people out there,” he explains. “They are high visibility and quite often they will have toques that match. That brings that public recognition to them. And when we go to the schools, you can see that the kids are very excited and very proud to be wearing these things.”
Constable Darrell monitors his SSP units once or twice a week. Because safety patrolling is graded in Winnipeg schools (not for school marks but for the program), he also scores their performance. “At the end of the year, Winnipeg Police Service recognizes the best patroller teams from all the different regions in the city. So, we’re judging them throughout the year.” And he’s impressed with what he sees.
“It is such a positive thing to see the adults responding to the kids that are trying to keep the whole community safe,” he says.
Jenylyn, who trained as a patroller to help her community, says her favourite part is helping kids cross the street safely. The responsibility she and others have for ensuring safety in schools around Manitoba doesn’t faze her. Still, she cautions that the hours might be daunting to some. “I would say you should [only] become a morning patroller if you can actually wake up early and get [to school] on time.”
Her Grade 6 colleague, Raven, agrees that timekeeping can be challenging. At lunch break, the limited time available to eat between extracurricular activities and patrolling duties can make lunch a rush for the midday shift.
“There’s stuff happening [like] chess club and volleyball. You’ve got to eat really quick and then get ready for posts. And that’s why being a patroller is hard,” Raven explains — though he appears to consider these sacrifices worthwhile. Even with training and two years of active safety patrol experience under his vest, Raven’s face lights up when asked what he likes most about the job. “My favourite part of being a patroller is kids crossing to safety.”
The SSP program provides youth a sense of accomplishment that continues into their adult lives.
Constable Darrell teaching Jenylyn and Raven the proper crossing procedure.
September is a busy time in Manitoba schools — and on Manitoba’s roads. Students, parents and other pedestrians who pass through school zones quickly learn that between the buses, the student drop-offs and the no-stopping zones, safely navigating the streets around schools can be a challenge. That’s why the CAA School Safety Patrol® (SSP) program was launched in Manitoba in 1936: to help students travel safely to and from school and promote safer communities.
If you’re in a Manitoba school zone where the program is implemented, you’ll see CAA School Safety Patrollers in their bright green vests, monitoring crosswalks as students travel to and from school. The training, the skills, the responsibility and the sense of pride attached to wearing that vest are things only a patroller can really explain, so CAA Magazine went straight to the source, spending the day with patrollers and the organizers of the SSP program at a Manitoba school.
Russell Antymis teaches at Faraday and supervises the School Safety Patrol program.
Once a patroller himself, Russell Antymis is a teacher and Faraday’s SSP program Supervisor. Antymis has been supervising the program in Winnipeg schools for more than 20 years and believes it empowers the kids who sign up, transforming them into capable, self-assured young adults.
“They benefit from the program at our school by becoming leaders in the building. They are visible leaders for the younger kids, become very good speakers and they have confidence with their peers and other adults.”
Knowing that the program is turning 90 makes this year a very special one. “It’s important in our community to celebrate these milestones. We ended up taking our [patrollers] to the Festival du Voyageur. They had a beautiful ice sculpture for the 90th anniversary, and our kids were proud of being part of something that has lasted so long.”
And it’s not just school staff that appreciate the program — the school’s community embraces the SSP program and all of the benefits it has in the community. Constable Darrell adds, “For a program that was initiated by a teacher who just wanted to make sure that kids are getting to school safely to be around [for 90 years] is amazing.” CAA
A Day Out With the CAA School Safety Patrol® Program
CAA Magazine spent the day with two School Safety Patrollers to learn about what they do, how the program works and why they love helping keep their community safe.
By Anne Marshall | Original photography by David Lipnowski
(Above) The bright green CAA School Safety Patrol® vest. (Below) Jenylyn prepares to take her patrol post.