Students at Chaparral Elementary School were the recipients of a very special safety assembly on Friday, May 14.  Thanks to their efforts in collecting the most pop tops in a district wide contest, representatives from local protective services branches put on a spectacular show the students at Chaparral will remember for a very long time.

School Police Officer Dennis Barnett served as master of ceremonies as he kept the mood upbeat and the action moving along.  Officer Cindy Evaro brought her fine-feathered friends of the Parrot Patrol:  four real live parrots and two brightly-colored costumed parrot mascots.  Student volunteers assisted as cockatoo Charisma demonstrated how he could snatch a hat off the student’s head in one big swooping motion.

The students especially enjoyed the SWAT demonstration.  First, a patrol car with lights flashing and siren blaring pulled over a “suspicious vehicle” outside the school grounds.  A K9 officer brought down one safely-padded suspect.  A second suspect exited the vehicle with his hostage, Principal Craig Baker.  The students whooped with glee as the SWAT team detonated a smoke bomb (at a safe distance) and Mr. Baker ran with arms flailing to safety.

In another demonstration, Firefighter Mike dressed out in his protective gear as Fire Department spokesman, Captain John Schaefer, explained the purpose of each layer.  Captain Schaefer also told students that if they are ever trapped in a burning house and they see a firefighter coming toward them, even though they are very scared, not to be afraid of the firefighter.  With the protective gear and mask on, it is difficult for the firefighter to speak and be understood.   The firefighters concluded their segment with a fire hose demonstration, shooting water high up into the sky.

Chief Bob Ratcliffe congratulated the students at Chaparral for collecting the most pop tops - 72 pounds! - in the district wide challenge.   They won the pop top challenge two years in a row.  Mr. Baker said they want to make it three and that they already have five pounds saved for next year!

Most importantly, Chief Bob wanted the students to know that the money raised through the pop top challenge was going to a worthy cause and that the children and their families at Ronald MacDonald House in Loma Linda will benefit from the students’ generosity.  "Once again the students of Chaparral Elementary proved that it does not matter how many people you have working for a common goal," said Chief Bob.  "What really matters is the level of commitment each individual has to accomplish the unbelievable.  I could not be more proud of their accomplishments and the lessons that the students of our district have learned by such a simple, but meaningful task."

Officer Norma Bautista brought along her new K-9 partner, a 2-year old white Labrador Retriever, Lassie.  Officer Lassie is still in training but she had a tail-waggin’ good time as students stood in line to give her a quick pat on the head as they exited the assembly.

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