It is always wonderful to see so many of our students engaging in an active way of travelling to school. This includes walking, riding or scooting to and from school.   However, it is important that parents continue to model and teach their children how to be safe when travelling independently or with small groups to and from school.   We have had several reports of children not using the supervised crossings, especially on Marlin Drive and on John Dory Drive.  Both of these streets are very busy and it has been reported to us that there have been several ‘near misses', where children have come from behind parked cars and cut across the road in front of approaching cars. 

It is important that everybody takes responsibility for ensuring that our students are safe.  

For students, this means they need to be aware of their surroundings and have clear strategies to keep themselves safe.  For example, looking carefully when crossing roads, following laws for pedestrians and riding safely.  It is particularly important that children think for themselves and make their own safe decisions, especially when they are travelling with a group of friends.

For the adults in our community, taking responsibility for ensuring that our students are safe involves:

1. Ensuring that your child/ren are ready for travelling independently in a safe manner
2. Driving safely, aware of the unpredictability of some children who are developing their independence in getting about by themselves.  This includes limiting your speed, especially in the streets close to schools.  
3. Taking the extra time to teach your child to always take the safest way to cross the road, especially using supervised crossings.  

Driving in the neighbouring streets close to school can at times be stressful.  Parents can sometimes be running a little late or desperately looking for a car park close to the gate so they can drop the kids off and get to work. Often in this rush to collect children, parents will put their child or others at risk by double parking in John Dory Drive or by completing an illegal u-turn at the front of the school.  We also see parents take their children straight across the road on John Dory when leaving the school.  

We all play our role in ensuring the safety of our community.  Please take care, slow down, and if you witness anything dangerous, please don’t hesitate in contacting the police.  If you see our students engaging in unsafe travel, please let me know by email on panderson@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au.  

It should also go without saying, but it is not always the case, please remember that our Crossing Supervisors are working to help keep your children safe.  Please remember to be respectful and courteous to the supervisors, even when it is their job to remind you of rules and regulations that are in place to make school crossing safe.