SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Sunset Hills Elementary school in Rancho Peñasquitos has been honored for having the top-ranked School Safety Patrol in the city.
The program is a partnership between San Diego Unified School District, Poway Unified School District, and the San Diego Police Department. Students participate by helping serve as crossing guards before and after school. Officer David Valdez, who oversees the team at Sunset Hills and four other schools, says the students learn leadership, community service, and volunteerism. "I have a lot of fun with them," Valdez told 10News. "It's great seeing them develop over the course of the school year."
About 90 schools participate in the progam, encompassing 2,000 student volunteers. Each student is eligible to apply for the top honor of being designated as the "Colonel". This year, Sunset Hills student Maddie Smith won. "It's a great feeling," she said. "WHen you help a kid during something, even if it's just a small act, it makes you feel really good inside."
Smith has ambitious goals. "I want to be the President when I grow up and I feel like this is a great way to lead me up to that. I will learn how to be a great leader, teamwork, a good citizen. I'll know how to help people."
