Child Safety

by Regina Hardaway

Hi neighbors,

I am the crossing guard at 6th and Cayuga, serving students from Cayuga Elementary, Hunting Park Christian Academy, McClure Elementary, Clemente MIddle School, De Hostos Charter, C.E.P., Esperanza Academy, and even Olney High. Every day these students are crossing streets while those in cars are running late to work! It is a dangerous situation for our little ones and requires all of us to be mindful of their safety. Thankfully, my corner has never had a traffic accident involving a student. Keep praying!

I'd like to begin by commending all of you for teaching your children to be very careful and to look both ways before crossing at an intersection. Also, for helping them to remember not to cross between cars for their own safety (i.e. many drivers aren't able to see children when they cross between cars until itt's too late).

Children do as we do, not as we say. Thank you for obeying all traffic lights at all corners in the neighborhood, even when you're in a hurry to get to your bus or to get to work and your children are with you. By obeying the traffic signals, we're teaching them that no matter how rushed you are, it's better to be safe.

I leave 6th and Cayuga at 9am. So if your child is running late, my suggestion is that you walk them to the school yard and not let them walk unattended, especially the little ones. To the parents who walk their children daily to school, I want to personally thank you for keeping a watchful eye out for those who do not have the best interest of our children in mind.

I also want to thank after school programs such as the one at Ayuda Community Center for taking care of those children whose parents are still at work when school lets out. If your child is currently unsupervised after school, consider enrolling them at Ayuda or another after school program. The cost of the program is minimal compared to the value of your child's safety!

Keep up the good work and let's all work together towards a safe rest of the school year!