No Speeding Tickets issued at the Student-Officer Skate

 

January 25, 2023

Blake Erickson, Andrew Hegstad, Tyrone Coke and Jared Olafson

by Laurel Latham

On Tuesday afternoon January 17, music was blasting and hot chocolate flowing at Doc's Harbor Inn rink in Warroad, where winter is never boring. Warroad Elementary students K-5 laced up skates with the assistance of local law enforcement and several volunteers. Their only assignment was to have a great time!

"The skating event was part of the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and

Supports) program that all students K-5 participate in at Warroad Elementary," explained 5th grade teacher Christy Olafson, who helped organize the skating party. "Events are planned throughout the school year."

PBIS is a nationwide program. With PBIS, schools teach positive behavior strategies, just as they would teach any other subject. PBIS addresses the multi-leveled needs of all students, which fosters an environment that promotes effective teaching and learning in schools.

"The bus with K-2 students arrived first and skated from noon to 1:00," said Christy "Grades 3-5 skated between 1:30 and 2:30. The students had so much fun, we could have let them skate longer, but when the event was planned, we weren't sure when students would get tired."

They didn't get tired! It might have been the skateable music pumping across the ice from the sound system. Or the smooth hot chocolate many students reported as the 'best hot chocolate they'd ever tasted.' (It was Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix). Or the excitement of skating along-side local law enforcement officers dressed in uniform; meeting the officers who keep us safe at the border, on our highways and in our homes.

"Being able to interact with those kids in a positive manner and assist the school with events is beneficial to everyone," reports Jared Olafson, Port Director U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "Seeing the smiles on the kids' faces made all law enforcement officers proud. We look forward to continued events on the ice!"

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol and the Roseau County Sheriff's Department were all represented at the Warroad K-5 skating event.

"Doc's Harbor constructed a sledding hill just for our skate party," said Christy Olafson. "We weren't sure how to pay for the rental skates so they donated free use of all the rental skates! They were absolutely wonderful finding enough volunteers to assist students with their skates!"

"Having the opportunity to skate with the kids and see how much they enjoyed having us there was really special," added Officer Andy Hegstad, Customs and Border Protection.

 

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