Windfall School summer program teaches kids about safety
Safety Town +PLUS graduates 23 students
Before each day’s lesson, the students of Safety Town +PLUS had some time for free play in the gym of Windfall School. Photos by SCOTT KRISKA
Sgt. Beverly Fraser, of the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, presented the lessons throughout the week of the Safety Town +PLUS program. On the last day, the children learned about safety around animals and pets.
Lydia Wochna, of the Granger Fire Department, brought her therapy dog, Kurt, to interact with the students as they played outside on the playground.
After receiving his or her diploma, each child shook hands with the community members involved in Safety Town +PLUS and with mascots Eddie the Eagle and Safety Pup.
GRANGER TOWNSHIP – Twenty-three children with developmental disabilities recently participated in a week-long educational program about safety at Windfall School.
Safety Town +PLUS is a safety education initiative that covers various topics, including fire safety, animal safety, bike safety and calling 911.
Safety Town +PLUS coordinator Sharon Horn explained this program, now in its eighth year, is similar to other "Safety Town" programs at other schools, but said there are some differences in this initiative compared to others since many of these students have unique challenges.
“We do the same thing, but we slow it down and have smaller groups,” Horn explained, pointing out Safety Town +PLUS classes usually consist of no more than 24 students.
“Everything’s adapted to the needs of the kids who come here,” Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities public relations coordinator Patti Hetkey explained. “There’s a lot of repetition of material.”
Another fact Horn and Hetkey pointed out is Safety Town +PLUS at Windfall School allows the students to continually return to take this class up until they reach third grade.
“We often have students do this all three years,” Horn said.
The involvement of local public safety organizations within the community was a large part of this year’s Safety Town +PLUS. Sgt. Bev Fraser, of the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, presented the lessons throughout the week. Lydia Wochna, of the Granger Fire Department, brought her therapy dog, Kurt, to interact with the students. During one of the lessons, the Granger Fire Department and Akron Children’s Hospital brought their helicopters for the children to see.
“Our local first responders get to interact with children with developmental disabilities so they get to learn how to communicate with them,” Hetkey said.
On July 20, the parents of the students gathered in the school gym for a graduation ceremony in celebration of their children’s completion of the program. After each child received a diploma, he or she had the chance to shake hands with Wochna, Sgt. Fraser, Sheriff Tom Miller and mascots Eddie the Eagle and Safety Pup. The kids and their parents were treated to refreshments after the ceremony.
Horn and Hetkey said they hope the children who participated in Safety Town +PLUS this year were able to learn valuable information they will be able to hold onto as they grow up. They also expressed their thanks to all of the volunteers who contributed to this year’s program.
Safety Town +PLUS is a safety education initiative that covers various topics, including fire safety, animal safety, bike safety and calling 911.
Safety Town +PLUS coordinator Sharon Horn explained this program, now in its eighth year, is similar to other "Safety Town" programs at other schools, but said there are some differences in this initiative compared to others since many of these students have unique challenges.
“We do the same thing, but we slow it down and have smaller groups,” Horn explained, pointing out Safety Town +PLUS classes usually consist of no more than 24 students.
“Everything’s adapted to the needs of the kids who come here,” Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities public relations coordinator Patti Hetkey explained. “There’s a lot of repetition of material.”
Another fact Horn and Hetkey pointed out is Safety Town +PLUS at Windfall School allows the students to continually return to take this class up until they reach third grade.
“We often have students do this all three years,” Horn said.
The involvement of local public safety organizations within the community was a large part of this year’s Safety Town +PLUS. Sgt. Bev Fraser, of the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, presented the lessons throughout the week. Lydia Wochna, of the Granger Fire Department, brought her therapy dog, Kurt, to interact with the students. During one of the lessons, the Granger Fire Department and Akron Children’s Hospital brought their helicopters for the children to see.
“Our local first responders get to interact with children with developmental disabilities so they get to learn how to communicate with them,” Hetkey said.
On July 20, the parents of the students gathered in the school gym for a graduation ceremony in celebration of their children’s completion of the program. After each child received a diploma, he or she had the chance to shake hands with Wochna, Sgt. Fraser, Sheriff Tom Miller and mascots Eddie the Eagle and Safety Pup. The kids and their parents were treated to refreshments after the ceremony.
Horn and Hetkey said they hope the children who participated in Safety Town +PLUS this year were able to learn valuable information they will be able to hold onto as they grow up. They also expressed their thanks to all of the volunteers who contributed to this year’s program.
