On Wednesday, March 15, a group of students from Tinley Park High School’s Say Something Club invited a group of Tinley Park Police officers to the school for coffee, doughnuts, and a discussion surrounding safety and community.
Say Something Week is sponsored by the Sandy Hook Foundation. The national week is celebrated by thousands of schools across the country. In the fall, schools participate in a “start with hello” activity for students to get to know new people in their schools and community. During “Say Something,” students learn steps in order to say something in the event of a crisis.
The Sandy Hook Promise organization focuses on empowering young people to keep themselves, friends and classmates, schools, and communities safe by “saying something” to trusted adults when they have a safety concern.
Around 10 police officers were split up and assigned a group of students to sit and discuss Say Something Week. Officers were also given a tour of the building to see favorite student spots such as the cafeteria, field house, and more. This was done in an effort to make local police familiar with the school, and student interest.
“We brought the police officers in to build relationships and create positive connections,” said Jillian Hickey, Say Something Club Sponsor. “These events are important to have because it's important for our students to know what to do in the event of a crisis.”
This is the first time Tinley Park High School has organized an event like this for Say Something Club. Some students who have expressed interest in the field of law enforcement were also invited to attend the event in the school's media center.
“It’s important to have events like this with students for many reasons because it breaks down a lot of barriers,” said Robert Shervino, Tinley Park Patrol Officer. “We were able to sit down and have meaningful conversations and get to know each other.”