In a year filled with huge challenges, it is more important than ever to recognize and celebrate the good. It’s for this reason that CAA South Central Ontario is thrilled to recognize a grade 8 student from St. Pius X Catholic Elementary School in Brantford as the recipient of our annual Ontario-wide CAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award.
From 70 nominees emerged this year’s well-deserved winner: 13 year-old Tyra Sayles. The grade 8 student was nominated by program supervisor and grade 8 teacher Richard Melski who was encouraged to nominate the “best of the best”. Tyra was recognized for her commendable work as a CAA School Safety Patroller, while supervising a particularly difficult bus – the bus was recognized to be so difficult, few other students volunteered to patrol it. Tyra not only volunteered, but she also put in extra time. When it was noticed that the other students’ behaviour worsened without Tyra’s presence, she actually volunteered to walk to an earlier stop in the morning and remain longer on the bus in the afternoon. This showed incredible dedication from the young student, as this would have added an extra hour to each volunteer day. An alternate solution was implemented which allowed Tyra to continue focusing on her regular Patroller duties with her trademark huge smile, can-do attitude and calm demeanour.