Freesia DeNaples Photo
Jayvon received a present at school Tuesday, along with a lesson. The present: A new bike helmet. The lesson: “You should always wear a helmet, or else you could fall and maybe even crack your head open.”
Amir (at left in photo) nodded his head in agreement as Jayvon (at right) repeated the lesson of the day.
That lesson took place at a bike safety day held at Quinnipiac Real World Math STEM School. Organizers gave away more than 300 donated bike helmets along with two bikes, and dispensed lessons about staying safe on two wheels.
At a ceremony inside the school, Principal Grace Nathman and Martin Torresquintero from the city parks department, spoke to kindergarteners and first graders to stress the importance of bike safety.
“If you’re younger than 16 years old, it is the law that you need to be wearing a helmet,” Torresquintero said to the roomful of 5, 6, and 7‑year-olds. “But no matter how old you are, it could be 92 years old, you need to wear a helmet, because helmets save lives.”
Torresquintero reminded the children that they are always required to wear a helmet when riding a bike, that they should wear bright colors and reflective lights when riding at night, and that they should always practice cautious riding.
Kindergarteners and first graders made drawings related to bike safety for the event. Second through fourth-graders submitted essays on the same subject. Five drawings and five essays were chosen as finalists,with a winner from each age group awarded a brand new bike courtesy of United Way of Greater New Haven.
After the kindergarten and first grade ceremony came to an end, second, third and forth graders entered the school to begin their ceremony.
Outside organizers set up a “street smarts” course. In addition to bike tips, the students learned the importance of bus safety. They heard from a representative from the New Haven Fire Department, and received free bike helmets, courtesy of Yale New Haven Hospital Trauma Unit, New Haven Parks, Recreation and Trees, top East Shore cop Sgt. Wilfredo Cruz, the fire department, United Way of Greater New Haven, CT Transit and Wal-Mart.
Freesia DeNaples Photo
Students were eager to try on their helmets, and stood stone-still as teachers and volunteers helped fit their helmets to their heads.
“I have two helmets now,” said a kindergartener to his friend. “Now I can wear them both at once!”
