Dear Editor:
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Hoboken Charter School, I would like to thank many community members who participated in making our October Safety Awareness activities such a success. A safety seminar at our high school featured Dr. Rod Lowder who spoke on sports safety; Police Officer Ed Drishti of the Hoboken Police Department and representatives of the Manhattan-based Guardian Angels Organization on street safety; Kat Diaz and Tara Montes of Tiger Schulmann Karate who gave a presentation on women’s safety; and HCS staff member Joe Miceli who helped teens understand the importance of Internet safety.
We’d also like to thank representatives from the Hoboken Fire Department who gave presentations at our lower and middle schools, and the Hoboken Police Department who were on hand for our many families who visited to have their children fingerprinted for the creation of a safety portfolio to keep at home. Several of our students also attended a free Bully Seminar offered by Tiger Schulmann Karate, designed to teach children how to identify a bully and how to respond to a person who is attempting to violate our rights to personal safety and dignity.
As educators and parents, we are keenly aware that certain aspects of our communities are not stable and safe. We want to protect our children and, at the same time, make them aware of steps they can take to assure their own safety. Our presenters did a marvelous job. We are proud to be part of a community where such fine role models and caring adults are willing to volunteer their time for the benefit of our developing youth.
Jill Singleton
Co-Coordinator
Hoboken Charter School