Team Seneca and National Missing Children’s Day

The middle school, and in particular Team Seneca, has been working to teach our children how to make better decisions. They have been trying to help the students think what the outcome of their actions will be before they engage in an activity.

Team Seneca’s teachers meet with the entire fifth grade team every Friday to recognize all of the good school citizens who have received an “reward slip” throughout the week. At these weekly meetings, the team discusses upcoming school events and issues that they feel are pertinent. This time is often spent discussing bullying issues and prevention strategies that empower the student to better handle potential situations in the future. This time is used to keep the lines of communication open between the students and teachers.

At a Team Seneca meeting, the teachers wanted to start to address personal safety issues and got some help from Trooper Wittner. Trooper Wittner discussed the continued concern of keeping our students safe. The team discussed what the “AMBER alert” system is. After discussing some ways for the children to remain safe, the team let the students participate in a voluntarily poster contest that had the theme of "Bring Our Missing Children Home."

In this meeting, the fifth grade students shared how they believed Fonda is a very safe place to live and they are fortunate to live is such a safe area. However, they wanted to do something to keep it a safe place as well as try to bring some missing children home. The national poster contest was a great way to do that and some of our fifth grade students participated. The trip to Washington, D.C. was very enticing for them! (Click on any Team Seneca poster below and view a larger image in a new screen.)

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared May 25 National Missing Children's Day. The poster contest was initiated by the formation of a partnership between U.S. Department of Justice and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Every Administration since President Reagan has honored this annual reminder to make child protection a national priority.

To continue helping our students learn about good decision making, Trooper Wittner moderated presentations on personal safety entitled “Step Away for Safety”, during the middle school’s Wellness Day. This program is aimed at middle school aged children and provides students with ideas, tips, and rules about dealing with strangers (people that the child does not know well).

In observance of National Missing Children's Day, on May 25, 2007 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Association for School Resource Officers are asking parents, teachers, and law enforcement to participate TAKE 25. Simply, they are asking parents to TAKE 25 minutes to discuss ways to keep children safer.

If you need some talking points or assistance, contact Trooper Wittner at 853-4415, Ext 4911.

Click on any Team Seneca poster below and view a larger image in a new screen.

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