• Email: rneedle@newfanecentralschools.org
• Phone: 716-778-6579
• Office: Newfane High School
• Niagara County Sheriff's Department Website

As School Resource Officer, the safety of our students is very important to me.  With that in mind, I think it’s appropriate to review some tips that will help keep us safe in the upcoming school year.
Please take a minute to review the following tips with your son or daughter.  I hope you find them helpful!

• If your child walks to school, be sure to walk the route with your child beforehand.
• Tell him or her to stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields and other places where there aren't many people around.
• Teach your child never to talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from strangers.
• Remember, a stranger is anyone you or your children don't know well or don't trust.
• Be sure your child walks to and from school with a sibling, friend, or neighbor.
• Teach your kids -- whether walking, biking, or riding the bus to school -- to obey all traffic signals, signs and traffic officers. 
• Remind them to be extra careful in bad weather.
• When driving kids, deliver them and pick them up as close to the school as possible. Don't leave until they are in the schoolyard or building (watch them enter).
• If your child bikes to school, make sure she wears a helmet that meets safety standards.  Research indicates that a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent.
• Be sure your child knows his or her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 for emergencies.
• Give your child some strategies for coping with bullies. He should not give in to a bully's demands, but should simply walk away or tell the bully to stop.  If the bullying continues, talk to an adult.
• Smart phones, other electronic devices, and small amounts of cash draw attention from thieves.  Try to avoid displaying these things in public.

Students riding a school bus should always:

• Arrive at the bus stop five minutes early.
• Stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road.
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
• Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.
• Be sure the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
• Stop at the edge of the bus and look left-right-left before crossing.
• Tell the bus driver if you drop something beside the bus.  Should you try to pick it up, the bus driver may not see you and drive away.

During the school bus ride:

• Always sit fully in the seat and face forward
• DO NOT distract the driver
• Never stand on a moving bus
• Obey the driver
• Speak in a low voice
• NEVER stick anything out the window - arms, legs, head, bookbags, etc.

Motorists should:

• Be aware that it is illegal in every state to pass a school bus stopped to load/unload students.  If the buses' red lights are flashing, YOU MUST STOP. IT’S THE LAW.  This includes school buses that are:
• On the opposite sides of divided highways.
• On multiple lane roadways.
• On the side of a roadway.
• In parking lots

On school grounds:

• Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off.  Begin moving only when the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn and the bus begins to move.
• Slow Down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops.