The Bellingham Police School Resource Officer provides Law Enforcement support for staff and students. As a liaison with the Bellingham School District, the goals and objectives of the Resource Officer are to foster educational programs and activities that increase students’ knowledge and respect for the law and function of law enforcement agencies.

The responsibilities of the Resource Officer include:

• Protecting lives and property of citizens and public school students
• Respond to major disruptions and criminal offenses occurring at schools
• Investigate serious crimes involving staff, students and families
• Provide security while attending extra-curricular activities when possible
• Conduct classroom presentations for students in law related educational fields

To contact the School Resource Officer ask our school receptionist at the front desk or contact the school principal. Another way to contact the school officer is through the Bellingham Police Department. If calling to ask questions or get information, call the non-emergency/main office phone number: (360) 778- 8800.

When we have an officer come into the classroom the class will be working on how to write letters. To help students to understand passenger safety, we would like the School Resource Officer to discuss topics such as:

• How we should be riding in the back seat until age 13.
• The importance of seat belts for all ages.
• How we should only ride with experienced drivers and never get in the car with someone who has been drinking or doing drugs.

After the lesson from the officer and a discussion, we will combine their writing skills and the knowledge learned about passenger safety in order to individually write thank you letters to the officer who came to our class as a guest speaker.

Healthy Behavior Outcomes:

HBO 1: Follow appropriate safety rules when riding in or on a motor vehicle.

HBO 2: Avoid driving in a motor vehicle-or riding in a motor vehicle driven by someone-while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

HBO 3: Use safety equipment appropriately and correctly.

HBO 4: Apply safety rules and procedures to avoid risky behaviors and injury.

National Health Education Standards:

• S1.5.1 Identify ways to reduce risk of injuries while riding in a motor vehicle.
• S1.5.2 Explain how injuries can be prevented.
• S2.5.4 Describe how relevant influences of family and culture affect personal safety and injury prevention practices and behaviors.
• S3.5.2 Describe characteristics of appropriate and reliable safety and injury prevention products.
• S4.5.1 Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to promote safety and avoid or reduce injury.
• S5.5.2 Decide when help is needed and when it is not needed to make a decision related to safety and injury prevention.
• S5.5.4 Identify options and their potential outcomes when making a decision related to safety and injury prevention.

Common Core 

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.D
  Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.3
  Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.D
  Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.E
  Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.F
  Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.*
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.A
  Use correct capitalization.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.B
  Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.C
  Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.D
  Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.