PUPPETS HELP MAKE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS SAFETY SAVVY

The "Puppet Mania" program has been introduced into the Cape Girardeau public and private schools by the Cape Girardeau Safe Communities Program and the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

The program was presented at Franklin Elementary School Wednesday.

"I think it's very important for children to be taught safety at a very early age," said Sharee Galnore, coordinator for the Safe Communities program.

The main objective of the program and Safety Week is to emphasize safety lessons that will have a major impact on the students' chances of remaining injury-free throughout the school year and hopefully for the rest of their lives.

The areas that are focused on during the week are safety belts, bicycle/helmet safety, playground safety and personal safety. Teachers are provided with daily lesson plans and activities for both at school and at home.

On the final day of the week, a 30-minute assembly is provided for the students. During the assembly, the students are given a special performance by the Safe Communities "Puppet Mania" safety puppets. The puppets review the safety lessons the students have been learning throughout the week.

Students from Cape Central and Notre Dame high schools compose eight teams who volunteer as puppeteers for the program. The students who worked throughout January and February training as puppeteers for the project began presenting their programs in March.