By Matthew E. Milliken

mmilliken@heraldsun.com; 419-6684

DURHAM -- Fifteen fifth-graders pledged to promote safety and prevent accidents Wednesday afternoon as Spring Valley Elementary School officially launched its Safety Patrol.

The 20-minute ceremony, which marked the beginning of only the second student organization at the school, attracted a number of distinguished guests. In attendance were Durham public schools Superintendent Carl Harris, Durham Mayor Pro Tem Cora Cole-McFadden, N.C. Central School of Education Associate Dean Diane Scott, and two representatives of AAA, which sponsors the Safety Patrol.

Principal Sylvia Bittle, in opening the ceremony, said that the Safety Patrollers would "gain safety awareness, teamwork, pride, citizenship and respect for law enforcement" from their new endeavor.

"We are excited and we are proud of our students because we know that this is invaluable experience for you," Bittle said.

The principal stated that former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, 21 astronauts and numerous Supreme Court justices had participated in the Safety Patrol.

Cole-McFadden said that she herself had been on the Safety Patrol, back in the day. She especially loved marching in the annual patrol parade in Washington, D.C.

"I honor our Safety Patrollers, and I know you're going to have a lot of fun," she said.

Billy Boyd, a detective with NCCU's police department, administered the patrol members' pledge as the 15 candidates stood and raised their right hands.

"I promise to do my best to report for duty on time; perform my duties faithfully; strive to prevent accidents, always setting a good example myself; obey my teachers and officers of the safety patrol; report dangerous practices of students; strive to earn the respect of fellow students," Boyd said, as the fifth-graders echoed each phrase.

Then Daunte Morrow, the school's community education coordinator, read the name of each new Safety Patroller. The children each received a neon-yellow ceremonial belt and proceeded around the stage to shake hands with each dignitary.

Patrollers help students arrive at and leave school in an orderly fashion. In the afternoon, they help students get into their parents' cars quickly and safely.

Bittle said that the patrol, which has been in operation at the school for a few weeks, has already generated praise from parents who drive their students to and from the 10-month-old elementary school, Durham's newest.

"I think they're doing a very good job here at the school," Assistant Principal Christie Bass said. "I'm very proud of their leadership. This motivates the other students to become leaders as well."

"This ties into the character education we have here," Bittle added.