Crossing guards deserve your smile, attention

You see them in the mornings, at lunch or after school, holding up a familiar sign and waving schoolchildren by. They are a part of our everyday life during the school year, yet they often go unnoticed. This week the Schaumburg Police Department celebrated School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day.

Being a crossing guard requires special skills — the ability to identify a potentially dangerous situation, to alert cars to slow down and stop for children, and to give those warm smiles and friendly hellos to make our students feel safe.

Our crossing guards come from different parts in their professional careers. Some are retired, some are in school, but all of them take their jobs very seriously. They are out there in the rain, heat, cold and snow. They are dedicated individuals that our community relies on. So the next time you’re driving by a crossing guard, please give him or her a wave or a friendly hello as a gesture of gratitude for what they do for the community.

Chief Ken Bouche

Schaumburg Police Department