Students show families what they learned
VERMILION — Vermilion Safety Town students marked the end of this year’s program June 26 with a graduation ceremony that gave families a chance to see some of the lessons children learned during the two-week program.
The 51st annual Vermilion Safety Town graduation involved both morning and afternoon classes. Students arrived by group, demonstrated skills they practiced during the program and sang songs for parents, relatives and community members.
Vermilion Safety Town teaches young children practical safety lessons before they begin school, with help from police, fire officials, safety instructors, volunteers and community supporters.
Mayor Russ Owens and Vermilion Police Chief Scott Holmes spoke during the ceremony, congratulating children and their families on their children’s accomplishment of graduating from the program. Vermilion Fire Chief Bill Brown and retired police chief Chris Hartung also attended.
Holmes said Safety Town remains an important program for the Vermilion Police Department because it gives children a foundation in safety before they begin school.
“This is an extremely important program for the Vermilion Police Department,” Holmes said.
The program focused on a wide range of safety lessons, including bike safety, railroad safety, stranger danger, crossing the street, safe touch, fire safety, calling 911, water safety, school bus safety, gun safety, animal safety, phone numbers and addresses.
Safety Town director Kate Lulovics was recognized for her work leading the program. Holmes credited Lulovics as the driving force behind Safety Town, saying she handles much of the planning, logistics and fundraising that makes the program possible.
School resource officer Ron Linkous was also recognized during the graduation. Linkous, who is new to the school officer role, said he spent much of his first Safety Town helping and learning from Lulovics while getting to know the children he will see again when they enter kindergarten.
Linkous said spending time with the students was one of the highlights of the program.
The program’s instructors were Aubrey Weimer, Lily Spicer, Aubrey Nofts, Justin Nofts, Kylie Schwarck and Ryan McGlothlin.
The graduation program also thanked community members and local donors who help keep Safety Town running. A special thank-you was given for a donated tarp, which allowed Safety Town to set up indoors and protect participants from the weather during the program.
After the ceremony, students received graduation bags and certificates, then celebrated with cookies and juice. Children also received helmets as part of the program’s continued emphasis on bike, scooter and pedestrian safety.
Holmes said the goal is for those lessons to stay with students long after graduation day.
“It really is a great program to start these kids off with a base of safety concerns and safety protocols,” Holmes said. He also said the program gives children an early chance to become comfortable in a school environment.
