Slow Down Croton Campaigns For Safe Routes For Students

From Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School:

Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School fifth- and sixth-graders took an educational field trip on Sept. 15 and 16 to various locations in the Village of Croton-on- Hudson with representatives of the community safety initiative encouraging “Safe Routes to School.”

The initiative, launched in partnership with the village and village police department, with support from the board of education and board of trustees, intends to enhance safety measures for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians so all members of the community will understand their responsibility for everyone’s protection. The village is supporting the efforts through a campaign titled “Slow Down Croton.”

“We are pleased with our safety initiative and partnership with the village,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Deborah O’Connell. “Our plans for the year will impact both the elementary school and the high school in our efforts to always improve the well-being of our students. As the saying goes, ‘it takes a village.’”

PVC Assistant Principal Michael Plotkin, who along with Athletic Director Thomas Cunningham, have spearheaded the Safe Routes to School effort, noted the initiative ties into the school’s emphasis on safety.

“Safe Routes to School is part of some of the things that we do at PVC every day,” he said.

The community effort was underscored as village leaders, members of the police department, school district administrators, teachers and parents all took part in making the safety walks successful.

“We saw this as an excellent opportunity to collaborate,” said Village Mayor Dr. Greg Schmidt. “Seeing the students out there with their teachers and members of the community gave us a real sense of how they walk and where they walk. The students were very engaged in the process and had some very good ideas for us.”

Students learned important tips such as to look both ways before crossing the street and to put their phones away to avoid being distracted while walking.

“It was so nice to see how the community joined together to make sure that our students feel our love and support, and to agree on how important it is that they remain safe,” said Dr. O’Connell.

Photo courtesy of Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School