By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Second graders at the Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West get up-close and personal with representatives of Key West's mounted and motorcycle police officers.
KEY WEST | The second graders at The Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea were especially excited last Friday, and not just because the weekend was near. Representatives from the Key West Police Department visited their school and, led by Chief of Police Donald Lee, explained the duties and responsibilities of the mounted police, the motorcycle police, detectives, and patrolmen and women.
The children in grades 2, 3, and 4 had prepared their questions and interviewed the police to gather facts for subsequent presentations to the rest of the school.
“Each year we ask every class to select a year-long service project. We believe that through service learning, our students can experience firsthand the importance of helping others, and to express gratitude for those that serve us. I was very pleased when the second grade chose to honor our local police as their service project,” said Robert Wright, school principal. “This project will eventually involve all our students, K-8, in learning about the services our police department provides.”
“Our children were very impressed with our police at our Career Day earlier this year,” said Maureen Wales, teacher. “When I asked them if they would like to honor our local heroes in a special way, they were simply thrilled. Now that they have gathered and summarized the facts, our second graders will present what they’ve learned to all the other classes. Every class will then create a banner acknowledging our police,” she added.
“The winning banners will be on display at police headquarters and the rest will adorn our school as we have our first 'Support Our Blue Day' on Monday, May 22,” said Wright. “The police department will also return on that day to address our older students, grades 5-8.”
The Basilica School, located at 700 Truman Avenue, has been educating the children of Key West since 1868. The school has PreK 3 through grade 8 students and focuses on educating the whole child in spirit, mind, and body.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Second graders at the Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West ask questions of representatives of the Key West Police Department April 21.
