Poland

It is a tradition in our school that first-graders take “The Exemplary Pedestrian Exam” in September. This year 115 pupils took this exam. Policemen, who had been invited to this event, instructed children how to get from their houses to school and from school to their houses safely. Moreover, they paid pupils’ attention to the importance of wearing reflective clothing or using reflective materials, for example armbands or waistcoats emphasizing the fact that every pupil should have them.

Once again our school takes part in a campaign organized by the Provincial Road Safety Council and the Traffic Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Krakow and the Provincial Department of Education. Partners of the campaign are the Provincial Office in Krakow, the Marshal Office in Krakow and the National Road Safety Centre. This year the campaign is called “Fluorescent School Is Me and You – It’s Us”. The aim is to remind pupils of road safety rules and the obligation of wearing fluorescent materials. Last year’s campaign was very interesting and successful.

For four years our school has been organizing a preventive campaign called “An Apple or a Lemon”. Pupils from grades 4 and 5 under the supervision of teachers and police officers from the Traffic Department in Dąbrowa Tarnowska took part in this event. The main goal of this action was paying drivers’ attention to obeying traffic regulations and reminding them that they may increase the level of safety on the roads. Police officers together with pupils stopped cars, checked drivers’ papers and sobriety to make sure that they drove safely.

From May to November 2015 we organized and coordinated the Second All-Poland Artistic Contest connected with Road Safety entitled “Fluorescently – Visibly – Safely”. The contest was aimed at grades 1-3, 4-6 as well as school common rooms. It was held under the patronage of the District Police Headquarters in Dąbrowa Tarnowska and the Road Safety Partnership Association in Warsaw. The level of the contest was very high. 536 artistic works from all over Poland were sent to our school.

On 29 October 2015 the Road Transport Inspectors visited our school. They met with the pupils from grades 2 and 3 and the members of the School Safety Club. The inspectors gave a talk about how to be safe on the road and pavement and how to behave on a pedestrian crossing. They emphasized the necessity of being visible and reminded children of the obligation to wear fluorescent elements. Pupils intently watched a PowerPoint presentation about being safe on the road as a pedestrian, a cyclist and a passenger.

For many years word search has been a very popular exercise. It is also an interesting activity for classes promoting road safety. It guarantees having fun and builds the pupils’ vocabulary and that is why it is a great exercise. The task is to find words from the list below the diagram. The words may go across, down, backwards or diagonally. Each letter may be a part of a few words. We prepare such word search puzzles during road safety classes or at the Club meetings.

The School Safety Club was established on 10 November 2010. 55 members belong to the Club. The board consists of: the chairman – Ernest Fido, the deputy chairman – Magdalena Kozioł, the secretary – Maja Łoś. The aim of the School Safety Club is taking action concerning ecology and the improvement of road safety in our local community. Joining the Club gives the possibility to put the theoretical knowledge on ecology and safety rules into practice. We focus on educating pupils, parents and members of local community on these matters.