Safety Town Success

One of the major projects that Junior Auxillary hosts each year is SAFETY TOWN! It is a week long "safety school" for kids that are getting ready to go to kindergarten. It was such a success! We had 120 children participate this year. My friend Laura was my co-teacher...she and I have the same due date, so it was pretty funny to watch two pregnant gals try to keep up with our kids - they wore us out!! Each day we had a different theme (Seatbelt Safety, Poison & Fire Awareness, Stranger Danger, School Bus Etiquette, and Traffic and Playground Safety). Each child learned their address and phone number by the end of the week and then we had a little graduation ceremony on the last day. All the kids performed the songs they had learned that week and answered saftey questions when quizzed by the Safety Town Mayor.

Laura and I taking a break to rest our feet :)

My friend Jessica read this poem at the conclusion of graduation - there wasn't a dry eye in the room...It's just so sweet that I thought I would post it:

The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing

‘Twas the night before kindergarten and as they prepared,kids were excited and a little bit scared.

They tossed and they turned about in their beds,while visions of school supplies danced in their heads.

Erasers and crayons and pencils galore were stuffed in their backpacks and set by the door.

Outfits were hung in closets with care,knowing that kindergarten soon would be there.

In the morning it came – school starts today!Would the teacher be nice? Would they still get to play?

Faces were washed, and teeth were brushed white;Kids posed for pictures with eyes sparkling bright.

Parents packed snacks and kids hopped in cars, As if they were boarding a spaceship to Mars.

Some kids brought blankets or their favorite stuffed bear; in hopes they could nap like they did in daycare.
Their parents exclaimed: “You’re big kids – WOW! Let us hold your bears and blankies for now.”

The parents were worried their children would cry if they left them at school with just a good-bye.

So they told their darlings, “If you want, we can stay and make sure that everything will be A-okay”
The teacher then greeted each one with a smile,and invited the students to stay for a while.

The room was all filled with toys, books, and maps,but where were the beds for midmorning naps?

They colored and painted and played Simon Says,then tumbled and skipped and stood on their heads.

They sang silly songs from beginning to end.Within just a minute, each kid had a friend.

The children were happy. They loved Miss Sunrise - It was she who was in for a giant surprise.

When what to her wondering eyes should appear but sad moms and dads who were holding back tears!

Their noses – so sniffly! Their eyes – red and wet! This was the saddest good-bye Miss Sunrise had seen yet!

She gathered the grown-ups on the magical rug, then sent them away after one final hug.

The children all waved from the door of the school.“Don’t cry, Mom and Dad; kindergarten is cool!”