Ensuring the safety of young students as they arrive and leave school each day is essential.

The High River Policing Committee and Citizens on Patrol have joined forces to provide new portable signs to help mark crosswalks for the students.

COP Volunteer Tammy Beach, who also works at Spitzee School, says they do have trouble with drivers not seeing the school patrollers as they stand on the side of the road, not on the road, which was a change they patrol program made several years ago.

Tom Crawford, from the police committee, was interested in purchasing the signs for the elementary schools.

"He had seen them in places throughout Alberta and he saw they were making a really nice difference."

Because the police committee doesn't have a budget they went to COP for help.

"It fits under our philosophy and mandate and we were able to support them and purchased six  school crossing signs for the three elementary schools in high river.

She adds it was a perfect fit for both of our the groups.

"It shows the community effort we have in our town with our volunteers to make things happen and make things happen quick and look out for our little guys."

The signs will be in use as of March 26 at Spitzee Elementary School, Holy Spirit Academy and Ecole Joe Clark School.

 These signs are designed to be easily placed in the centre of a school crosswalk and provide an additional warning to vehicles that children are crossing. The signs will help to encourage vehicles to slow down and provide additional safety to school patrollers and students crossing the road.

Photo: School patrollers Nate Nychyk and Logan Woolridge with Thomas Crawford with the High River Policing Committee.