© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

The school safety patrolEach school day, more than 560,000

school safety patrol boys and girlsacross the country help to keep otherstudents safe.

The patrols are usually selected byteachers and principals. They are oftenfifth- and sixth-grade students.

School safety patrols give theirtime to be at their post early in themorning, after school in the afternoon,and in all kinds of weather.

They often raise and lower theschool flag as well.

Back-to-School Game

Safety Rules ShuffleRules of the gameYou’ll need:• One reader (adult or older kid) and one or two playersWhat to do:1. Cut out each strip. Then cut along dotted line.2. Make two piles, one for pictures, one for rules.3. Spread out the pictures face-up.4. A reader reads a rule.5. When a player finds the matching picture, a match is made.6. When a match is not made, it is the other player’s turn.If there is only one player, keep playing until all matches are made.

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Safety rules for school bus riders:

Use the bushandrails andget on onerider at a time.

Obey the busdriver and theschool safetypatrol.

Don’t rush to thebus stop. Getthere at least fiveminutes early.Stand well awayfrom the road.

Wait until thebus comes toa completestop beforegetting off.

Remainseated andkeep theaisle clear.

Cross at least10 steps infront of the busso the drivercan see you.10 steps

BETTY DEBNAM — Founding Editor and Editor at LargeHOUSTON CHRONICLE Saturday, August 8, 2009

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

How safety patrols startedIn the early 1920s, Charles

M. Hayes, president of AAAChicago Motor Club, saw aneed for patrols to help guidekids to and from schools.

Hayes turned to the AmericanAutomobile Association (AAA), agroup that helps travelers, and gotit interested in helping to spread theidea across the country.

Today, the association stillsupports safety patrols. Itoffers guidance, badges andsafety videos to patrols.

What good patrols doAAA school safety patrols

pledge to:• Report for duty on time.• Perform their duties faithfully.• Strive to prevent crashes and set

a good example.• Obey their teachers and patrol

officers.• Report dangerous student

practices.• Earn the respect of fellow students.

What safety patrollers wearFor their own safety,

school safety patrols mustwear something thatmakes it easy for driversto see them.

Most patrollers wear bright greenor orange “Sam Browne” belts. Thebelts are named after a Britishmilitary hero, Gen.Sam Browne. Helost his arm in abattle and designeda special belt to helphim carry his sword.

Helping to Keep Schools Safe

Duties of school bus patrol• Make sure the

students move in anorderly manner and fillthe bus from the back.

• See that books, lunch boxes,trash or any other items are kept offthe floor.

• Make certain that no one touchesthe emergency door. Also, help thedriver open the door if necessary.

• Keep order. Report to the driveranyone who does not cooperate.Report to the driver any damage tothe bus.

Words and names that remind us of school safety are hidden in the blockbelow. Some words are hidden backward, both up and down, and diagonally.Some letters are used twice. See if you can find: SAFETY, PATROL, LOOK,LISTEN, OBEY, BELT, BADGE, BUS, TRAFFIC, SCHOOL, RULES,CAREFUL, GIRL, ATTENTION, DEDICATED, STOP, HELP, CROSS,POLICE, RESPECT, SIGN, SAFE, BOY, DUTY, RIGHT, WAY.

School Safety try ’nfind

Make ita safe school

year!

D P A T R O L Q S T L E B T NX E Y T E F A S Y U O P X R OB A D G E J O A F B O Y N A IL N U I C R W E Y T K E E F TO T T P C S R E S P E C T F NO H Y N E A X L V O F I S I EH G G L C F T Q B U S L I C TC I U Z K E H E L P F O L M TS R G I R L Y V D G U P J I A

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Basset Brown

the news

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More to Explorefrom The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

The Mini Page provides ideas for Websites, books or other resources that willhelp you learn more about this week’s topics.

At the library:“Staying Safe” by Alvin Silverstein“Staying Safe on the School Bus” by Joanne

MatternSite to see:www.aaaexchange.com/Main/Default.asp?

CategoryID=75&SubCategoryID=25&ContentsID=74

These school safety patrollersin Loudoun County, Virginia,are helping kids get to schoolsafely.

photo courtesy AAA Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education

Sam Browne

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeFruitful Chicken Salad

You’ll need:• 3 cups diced cooked chicken• 1 cup diced celery• juice from 1 small lemon• 1 tablespoon minced red onion• 1 teaspoon salt• 1 cup seedless green grapes, quarteredWhat to do:1. Combine chicken, celery, lemon juice, onion and salt in a large

bowl. Chill.2. After chilling, gently stir in remaining ingredients to mix.3. Serve on bread as sandwiches, or on lettuce leaves as a salad.

Serves 6 to 8.You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.

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from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Meet Denis LearyDenis Leary is the voice of Diego, the saber-

toothed tiger, in the movie “Ice Age: Dawn ofthe Dinosaurs.”

Denis has been the voice of Diego in theother two “Ice Age” movies and the voice ofFrancis in “A Bug’s Life.” He has acted inseveral TV shows, including “Rescue Me,”which he co-created.

Denis, 52, grew up in Worcester, Mass. After a warehouse firethere killed six firefighters, including Denis’ cousin, he startedthe Leary Firefighters Foundation to help obtain equipmentand training for fire departments in Worcester and Boston.

For 14 years he has also co-produced a benefit to raisemoney to help kids and adults when they are having medicaltreatment.

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Sade: Where do spooky creatures go to learn?Salvador: A sghoul!

Sable: What do future bankers love aboutcircle time at school?

Sabina: Show and teller!

TM

All the following jokes have something in common.Can you guess the common theme or category?

Sage: What is a thermometer’s purpose atschool?

Sam: To earn degrees!

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and her friends are learning about safety.See if you can find:• ear of corn • needle • apple • heart• word MINI • paper clip • key • whistle• number 6 • boot • number 7 • kite• letter E • ruler • bell • mug• letter Y • cheese wedge • letter L

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

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• 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges,drained

• 1/3 cup sliced almonds• 1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Standards Spotlight:Safety Rules Shuffle

Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week weidentify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer activities that will help yourstudents reach them.

This week’s standard:• Students understand how rules in school are related to principles of

responsibility. (Social Studies: Civics)Activities:1. Make a collage. Paste newspaper words that describe a good safety patrol

on a piece of paper.2. What rules do you follow every day? What three rules will you work to

better follow this year?3. Choose three comic strip characters who would make good safety patrols.

Tell why you chose each one.4. Which of the safety rules in today’s Mini Page tell you to (a) pay attention,

(b) be courteous, (c) have good equipment, and (d) listen to others?5. Pretend you are a school safety patrol. Write a story about your experience

on the first day of school.(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

®from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

When riding in cars:

Fasten yourseat belt.

Sit quietlyand don’tbother thedriver. Alwayssit in theback seat.

Always getout on thecurb side ofthe car.

The Mini Page thanks Terpse Gentile,manager of Traffic Safety Programs/Special Projects, Mid-AtlanticFoundation for Safety and Education,and AAA National for help with thisissue.

When walking to and from school:Unless otherplans aremade withyour family,go right homefrom school.

Cross only atintersections.Walk, neverrun.

Obey theschool safetypatrols, policeand crossingguards.

Look in alldirectionsbeforecrossing thestreet.

Obey trafficsignals.

Walk facingthe traffic ifthere are nosidewalks.

Watch forturningvehicles.

Avoidcrossingbetweenparked cars.

Beware ofstrangersand avoidthem.

When cycling to school:

Wear ahelmet.

Use abackpack tocarry books.Keep yourhands on thehandlebars.

Walk your bikeacross busyintersections.

Stop and lookall ways beforeentering aroadway froma driveway.

Go with thetraffic andobey therules of theroad.