Lunch Time Fun and A Safe Ride on the CTA

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of being "lunch mom" and then visiting first and third grades. We are new to NPES, and still consider ourselves "rookies," but our affinity grows with each passing day. Volunteering at lunch time is simply fascinating! Watching the various dynamics and interactions was better than any reality show. More importantly, it reinforced my appreciation for the values taught at NPES, these kids are on their way to success! I was also able to steal a couple of creative lunch ideas.

During my visit to each classroom, I talked to the students about CTA. We looked at a system map and reviewed the various train lines, including the Brown Line just down the street. We discussed how utilizing public transportation is vital to a large city (1.7 million people ride the CTA every day!), how it's good for the environment and how it's good for our health because it involves walking.

But as the former Chief of Safety and Security at CTA I thought it exceptionally important to share with them some important safety tips. Never go on the tracks. Don't horse around on platforms. Always respect crossing gate arms, bells and lights. Boy, did they get it! They asked a ton of great questions, you should be proud of your urban dwellers. I hope they enjoyed the presentation as much as I enjoyed spending time with them, and I hope they always remember the safety issues we discussed.

Celi De La Cruz, Ava (3rd) & Marcelino (1st)