Registration forms for Galion Safety Town are now available. The Galion Police Department organizes the program to educate children on a variety of safety topics before they start school. Two sessions are available: The first session is Aug. 1 to 4 and the second session is Aug. 8 to 11. If there are not enough students for both sessions, Safety Town will only be held Aug. 1-4.
There is no cost for this event. It will be held at Galion Primary School for any child living in the Galion City School District, who will be in kindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year (they do not have to attend Galion City Schools).
“This is a great program that educates our young students. We teach about bicycle safety, how to cross the street, fire safety and health and hygiene,” Police Chief Brian Saterfield said.
For bicycle and traffic safety, a “Safety City” complete with small buildings and traffic lights will be constructed in the parking lot. Other educational programs throughout the week will allow children to meet a police officer and learn about school bus safety. The Fire Department will also be there to teach fire safety basics.
School Resource Officer Lt. Lynn Sterling will lead Safety Town. “It’s a good thing for the kids to be around police officers. They have a lot of fun at Safety Town and they get acquainted with their new school if they are enrolling at Galion,” she said.
Galion Safety Town was brought back last year after an indefinite hiatus with support from the Mayor’s Office as well as a $2,000 Beacon Grant from Galion Elks Lodge 1191. The grant was used to purchase program books and other necessary supplies, as well as bicycle helmets. Forty local kids participated.
For the 2016 session, a second Beacon Grant from the Elks will allow each child to receive a backpack and a bicycle helmet.
The registration deadline is July 25. Forms will be included in kindergarten registration packets, or they can be picked up at the Galion Police Department. Completed forms can be mailed or dropped off at the Galion Police Department, 301 Harding Way East, or emailed to Sterling at [email protected].
Sterling also said volunteers are needed to help guide children from classroom to classroom, preferably middle school or high school students. Those interested in being a volunteer may call Sterling at 419-468-9111 to sign up.
