CASPER, Wyo. — Summer break is drawing to a close for Natrona County School District students, who will return to classes on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
With the new school year approaching, NCSD and law enforcement agencies in the area are asking people to drive safely and follow other back-to-school safety measures.
Drivers should be aware of school zones and should know they are required to stop if a school bus has its lights flashing or if its stop sign is out.
“Whether you are in front of or behind a school bus, if the red flashing lights are on or the stop sign is out, you must stop,” Tanya Southerland, public relations director for NCSD, said. “We encourage all drivers to be aware and diligent while driving at all times, but especially pay attention to school zones and school buses. You must stop when the stop sign is out, or the red lights are flashing. These laws are in place to protect our children. Let’s keep them safe, together.”
Drivers are encouraged to take some time becoming familiar with things like crosswalks and school zones along their daily commute, NCSD said.
“Pay careful attention to school zones, bus stops, stop signs, and other important traffic elements in place to keep students walking, riding, bussing, or biking to and from school safely,” the district’s press release on Tuesday said.
People are also asked to make sure campers and vehicles aren’t parked in a way that blocks sidewalks and that properties are kept clear of trees, bushes or other obstructions.
“We are grateful to our community’s commitment to keep sidewalks clear of any obstructions that would prevent a student or other community member from walking safely on our sidewalks instead of in our streets,” Casper City Manager Carter Napier said. “We also ask property owners to keep trees and shrubbery from blocking stop signs or other traffic signs. Together, we can keep our entire community safe.”
Parents are encouraged to talk with children about walking or riding bikes to and from school.
“Taking time before school starts to walk with your child to and from school or the bus stop is a great opportunity to have targeted conversations with your children about paying attention to crosswalks, stop signs, and other traffic signals,” Lt. Scott Jones with the Casper Police Department said. “It is also a great time to have early conversations with your student about being aware of their surroundings and avoiding distractions, such as texting or playing games on their phone while walking or biking to and from school.”
Parents are encouraged to talk to children about looking both ways before crossing a street and to never enter a street from behind things like parked cars, bushes or signs. Children should also be taught not to run across intersections, NCSD said.
NCSD and law enforcement are also encouraging parents to talk with children about online safety.
“Parents and guardians should have an open conversation with their children regarding transparent phone usage,” Lt. Jeremy Tremel with the Casper Police Department said. “It is critically important to know who your kids are talking to and what apps they are using to communicate. But, most importantly, encourage your children to speak with a trusted adult anytime they encounter an uncomfortable situation online.
“With the direct partnership of parents, guardians, and trusted adults in the lives of our Casper kids, we can work together to keep our community’s kids safe online.”
The Casper Police Department offers resources online to help teach kids about online safety.
Parents are also encouraged to teach children to say “no” if they are approached by strangers.
“Familiarize your student with the safety rule, ‘Say NO, GO and TELL,'” NCSD said. “If anyone approaches your child, offers them a ride, asks for directions, or makes them feel uncomfortable, instruct them to say ‘NO,’ get away from the situation (GO), and TELL a trusted adult. Be sure to discuss with your child who trusted adults may be: parents, teachers, police officers, firefighters, relatives, etc.”
Natrona County Sheriff John Harlin also offered some advice regarding teaching children about how to handle situations in which they are approached by strangers.
“Start an open conversation with your child about stranger safety, and remind them to trust their intuition and to take action when they sense they are in danger,” Harlin said. “Talk through scenarios that a stranger may use to ploy your child, such as offering a ride home or asking for help finding a lost pet. Make safety part of your routine everyday life by continuing safety conversations with your child.”
NCSD added that it will be sharing back-to-school safety tips via social media as the school year approaches.
