Health & Safety

Does your family participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project at Halloween? If you're not familiar with this national program, you should be! According to the non-profit organization, "the Teal Pumpkin Project is a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food allergies, and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions. Placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep signals that, in addition to candy, you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all trick or treaters. Help us make this Halloween one to remember!"

We encourage all Garden City families to consider participating in this wonderful program, and make Halloween an inclusive, fun event for everyone in town! Check out the resources below to get involved

May is Bike Safety month, and we're encouraging everyone to brush up on their bike safety knowledge and skills throughout the month! Here are a few ways you can get involved:

1. Participate in the Bike Safety Month Poster contest before June 1st. Entries should feature some element of bike safety, such as wearing helmets, staying in bike lanes, etc. All entries should be turned into the Primary and Elementary School main offices by June 1st. More details are in the graphic below. 
2. Join us at the Bike Safety Rodeo on Saturday, June 3 at the GCMS. You must reserve a spot in advance -- check out the Sign-up Genius link here to snag one before they're all taken!

Don't forget to check out these great bike safety online resources!

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Activity Guide
• Bicycling in New York: Children's Safety Information Page
• Teaching Children Bicycle Safety

This Fall the Health and Safety Committee has dedicated its efforts to educating our children about fire safety. Our primary schools all attended a visit from the Garden City Fire Department and enjoyed a teacher led read aloud of the book “Plan and Prepare (Fire Safety)” generously donated by the PTA. The GCFD will also be presenting to our elementary school students. Below please find additional resources that you can use at home:

Sparky the Fire Dog’s website provides a variety of wonderful resources to help your child and family stay safe in the event of a fire. Visit https://www.sparky.org/ for educational and fun activities, videos and family fire safety planning tools.

Visit https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan for templates and tools to help your family create and discuss their emergency evacuation plan.

DON'T PASS THE FLASH

The Garden City PTA has been working on a campaign to educate Village residents about NYS traffic laws regarding stopped school buses.  District-wide, parents have witnessed an increasing number of motorists passing stopped school buses in the morning and at dismissal, which presents a grave hazard to school children boarding and exiting the buses.  In response, we have produced an online quiz and a one-page bus safety flyer with informational graphics, which clarifies the law and explains the consequences for not stopping.  

We encourage you to take the quiz and see how well you know the law! 

Support this campaign with our "Don't Pass the Flash" car magnet. Please contact healthandsafety@gardencitypta.org if you would like a car magnet and raise awareness!