My last class for kindergarden class !

It was so sad to know that this would be my last kindergarden class. I put all my energy into this class and I think I did the best I could. This was my last day to shine, and I did. The class was a little crazy but Cindy and I managed. The students were good and well behaved. It was also the first time I had special needs children in the class too. To be honest I had not problems with them and they we so kind and had great manners ... I wish all the kids were like that ! I also started talking with the EA and she told me her grandaughter was interested in becoming a police officer and I gave her some advice and some pointers. It feels so nice that people look up to you and ultimately admire the work you do. For one last time I did the take down for the kindergardem program, and I was a little sad.. kinda worried for the grade three program. Cindy was telling me that this program requires a little more discipline and authority. It should be interesting, but I am excited for a new change.

Also this was my last day here before the weekend and it is my birthday on the thirtyfirst and all the officers knew. In my first blog I remember saying how much I hated the first day, but they were all just joking around. They are my family strange enough , Pam and I talk more and she is so nice and is a great listener, and Jodi , I remember my first day she made a comment and I was so intimidated by her. But today she came running down the stairs and said " HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE" , and she gave me the biggest hug ever ! It was so nice , and Cindy she is always so kind to me and always helps me and encourages me to do better or to push myself to go that extra mile and I could not ask for anything more. Mr Grace I am truly honoured to be doing my co op here !

peace out !
officer lavecchia

Wednesday!!

My time at the village is flying by so fast. I wish it would slow down at times. Today was my second last class, it was sad. I have gotten to know the children and the program so well I do not want it to end. But all good things come to an inevitable end. Today we had 28 students, so again it was a little slow but it was really cool. I got to meet Sue, she used to work teaching DARE in our unit. Now Sue is a detective and works with young offenders at 20 divison, which ironically s right beside my house! It was great to talk to her and get her views on the work she does.

After class was done I did the lock up which inlcudes locking all doors, shutting down the traffic lights and rewinding the video that we use in class. One more class to go ...and to be honest I am sad it is coming to an end.

officer lavecchia

Tuesday the 27th !

Today co op was not that exciting as other days. This is the last week of the Kindergarden safety program, so this is the last of our classes until our bike safety program,which starts in April. todays class was small, we only had a total of 17 students today. It was a really quiet class and to be honest, I have to agree with Cindy it is easier to teach a larger class. I just find that you get more involved in a larger group, as well as you are more interactive with the students , where as to a small group there is not as much interaction. This program with the younger children had been incredible, and has opened me to more options in policing. I am really interested in that maybe after my five years of being a police officer I would like to teach the safety program. You are a role model for the children and you are still a police officer , which is something I love doing with all my heart !

So far I have gained so much from co op. I have learned how to manage my time wisely, and this is going to sound wierd but I have gained something I never thought I would and that is bravery and courage. Never would I have done these things before , for example me working as hard as I can to get my drivers liscence, or appyling to become an auxillary officer. This experience has given me the determination and mind to make important and critical descisions that will help me in the near future, and I cannot wait !!

officer lavecchia

Monday the 26 was SO AWESOME

Today was a good day! It was rather slow though, due to weather conditions classes were cancelled. When ever there is a thunderstorm classes are usually cancelled. So Cindy and I headed off to head quarters today. We went dock the computer today and there was an internal problem within the computer. Cindy and I then went downstairs to see the tech people... which I might add are brainers at what they do which is incredible. In the mean time while we were waiting for him I had noticed a uniform hanging on the coat hanger where all the other officers keep there coats. It said auxillary on the sleve, so I asked Cindy what it was. Basically they a volunteer police officers and work at events that need extra help with patrolling, when they are needed they are sent out. The only thing is they do not have a gun. In order to carry a gun you must be a full officer. I was extremely interested so I asked Cindy and she told me to get an application, and I did. So now that I am eighteen years of age I can apply to be an auxillary officer!! I have to go through a physical, mental, and written test as well as several interviews. I plan on getting this position and I am going to work as hard as I can to get where I want to go... I think the actuall officer thing might come into use alot earlier than expected !!

officer lavecchia

The week .. in general !

I was really proud of myself ! This week was a little difficult at times for me , but I pulled through . Here at my co op I feel like I am at home. This week I felt as if I could do anthing and I was really happy with myself . I noticed a great improvement. Working with the children came alot easier to me I just let things flow. Also I noticed that being really happy influenced the interaction with the chidren! It was incredible to see how they live off your personality.

Also this week was awesome in the terms of doing things ! I got into the peace program, it is basically a civilian officer program , teaching the community about a career in policing , every little aspect of it. I will be doing this for three months. I love my co op Mr Grace, I know I say it all the time and your probabley sick of hearing it, but I am amazed at how far one person is willing to go for me in order to achieve my dream. In life I have always had to work for myself and no one else got me anywhere but myself, I am just shocked that I have someone doing what ever she can in her power to get me where I want to go and I cannot thank her enough, Cindy is truly a role model to me and I cannot thank her enough!

annmarie

friday le 23

Thank god it's friday !! I always like the tgif thing to be personal, no seriously it was a nice break from having those high numbered classes. Today was the last class before the weekend and it was alot easier today. We still had a high number of students but I found as the week went on I was comfortable and able to participate with no problems. And the students we great !!

After we finished teaching I talked to Mary , the other DARE officer. Her and I got talking again and she gave me some helpful pointers that I think will be extremely benefitial to me in the future. She told me to get a job at wonderland working as a securtiy guard, Mary mentioned it is great experience and you learn alot on the job which could help me in becoming a police officer. I really do appreciate and admire the work that she does, along with the other police officers. I just think it is incredible !

officer lavecchia !

Interesting Day ...Learned alot

Today I Had a class of 70 students , again it was a little difficult at first. It was good though ,I made it through and the students were awesome today ! Everday gets alot easier with these larger numbers. I have noticed that few times I have had to be the authoritative figure to keep the students in control. But other then that the class was awesome!

After class I talked to Mary, I mentioned her in my other blog the other day. She is new police officer in the DARE unit. She loves what she does and she gave me some insight on her policing career, like today, I never knew that police officers teaching DARE were allowed to issue tickets , they are still enforcing the law even though they are teaching classes. She also talked to me about how she still goes to court and testifies and does other things according and pertaining to her career. Mary also talked about her previous encounters on the job , which I might say are very sad and upseting. But it is so cool to talk to her and hear her presepctive !

officer lavecchia

68 STUDENTS :O

Today was a little hard for me. I am the afternoon co op student, so usually I tend to have the smaller classes . Where as to Dan , the morning co op student had the larger bunch almost all the time, he has the experience teaching larger classes. I am still getting use to it. Honestly I thought it was alot easier , your more preoccupied and you do not get bored. I noticed and improvement in myself over this past week, I have become more involved with the students. The students are so sweet , I have gotten alot of hug this week, I think it is so cute , and I love being that influential figure in their lives. And to be honest it is getting easier as the weeks go on! And Cindy is such an influential figure, she knew it was going to be a little difficult for me this week but she encouraged me that everything was going to work out for the best ! I cannot thank her enough !

Pace out !

annmarieee

March 21!! THE BEST CLASS EVER !!

Today was a great day !! This must have been my favourite class !! The students were absolutely incredible !!! This class came from St. Dominics. The teacher was very organised and she was very patient with her students. She showed compassion and encouraged them when they did not do something the correct way. I was amazed at the amount of power she had over the class. I also found it really nice that she asked where I was going to school, what I wanted to do later on in life, it just meant alot that she took the time to get to know the co op student, me as a person. I have to say that I loved to teach the class with Cindy, I felt so happy in doing so !

signing out for tonight !!!

officer lavecchia !

First day back from march break !

The first day back was really easy for me! The class I had today was the smallest I have ever had. There was only a total of 8 students in the class, it was really easy. But to be honest it was kind of boring. The class was so quiet, I am so used to having a loud class. However it was nice to come back and not have that great amount of work to do. So it was sort of and ease into this week. And to be truthful I missed Cindy so much !

Over the break we also had a new police officer come into our unit. Her name is Mary, she has been a police officer for only 5 years. She worked in peel for her first five years, she then transfered over to Halton Regional Police Service where she is more content. You can tell she is a little shy, I mean it is her first time teaching the program... she is still getting the hang of things. I am sure in time she will be as open as the other officers.

annmarie !!!

My third week !!

This week was awesome. I can honestly say I love my co op I go there and I feel like I am at home. Cindy is such an inpirational figure and she always encourages me to do better, she never yells and she is very patient.Here I am so comfortable , this is my second home. Also the relatioships I have developed with the police officers is incredible. I was a little intimidated before but now they are like family, Bruce is a Constable but he is like a father figure, he and I will always talk to me and he will tell me about his encounters or give me awesome advice on being a teenager in todays society.Jodi and Laurel are the jokesters of them all, they are always teasing Cindy and I and always talking about encounters over the past which is really cool. Brenda was are acting sargeant but that is not in place anymore due to the fact that she has to start teaching her DARE classes, we are still waiting for a sargeant to obtain this position. Brenda is awesome she is like a mom, she is always giving me advice and when I threw my back out from my fall at home she was telling me what I should do and helping me , along with Cindy with any lifting that had to be done. And last but not least Drew and Pam , they are really shy and quiet , but when I do have the chance to talk to them they are really nice and I see alot of me in them, personality wise. It is so wierd I have been here for only a short period of time but I feel like I have been doing this my whole life and I cannot wait to be living out my dream and actually working as a police officer.

On the other hand this week was a little crazy , I was getting the bigger classes. It was a little harder for me. I usually tend to get the smaller classes which have a head count of about twenty to thirty children. This week I had between forty to fifty children which at times was a little difficult but I did get the hang of it. What made it alot easier was that Cindy reassured me that I could do it and that it would be no different then any other class. And I did do it. I was really proud of myself, but honestly it was with a little encouragement that I did what I was suppose to and I cannot thank Cindy enough. Over these past few weeks I have become a more independent individual ... I feel that I can do anything and this drive to become the indivdual I want to be in the near future is so cool...which come to think of it , it is only a few years away and I cannot wait I am so excited to become a police officer!!

p.s/ come to think of it I actually miss being at my co op and I cannot wait for march break to be over and done with !

have a good march break Mr Grace!

officer alav aka annmarie

Last day going into the March Break!

Today was a great last day to go into the March Break. Things we a little out of hand when I go to the village today. Due to the cold weather a large amount of ice had covered a vast area ofthe village. So when I arrived Cindy and covered the village with salt. Thank goodness no one hurt themselves. while class was going on. Again today was a large class so it wasa little hard but the practice I had yesterday helped. the students today were a little out of hand but I was patient and maintained my composrue. Each day gets a little easier, however I am sad that it is March Break ... I love being at my co op and to be honest not being there makes me so sad. It is my second home and my second family !! I cannot wait for this week to be over. Have a great march break Mr. Grace !

officer lavecchia aka annmarie =)

March 7- Ths BIG class!

Today was alot different then any other day. First off I met one of the police officer who had previously worked in the DARE unit. Her name is Carla and she worked for the unit for 6 years. It was really wierd though, she walked in and automatically knew who I was. She remembed me from my elementary school. Carla said she would always see me in the hall and said I was always friendly and smiled at her so it was nice to have that feedback. However we also got talking about her policing career and she enjoys it so much... Mr Grace I can Honestly say I CANNOT wait to become a police officer it is going to be so awesome.

On the other hand today I had my first class that was a large number. Usually Cindy and I will only have about twenty to thirty students, but for me today was crazy. It was a little intense because this was my first class with such a large number but I got through it and it was a challenge that I overcame which I think is incredible. Each day I spend at the village I get so attached to the people and what I do , it is honestly my second family. Mr Grace I hope you hada good visit at the village and that you got a good perspective of what I do . This is my second home and my family.. I could not ask for anything more !!

P.S No need to be scared of guns ahaha!! I will hopefulyl have pictures to put on my blog !

signing out !!

future officer lavecchia =) aka annmarie

Tuesday March 6

The neck injury that I had is slowly getting better so this allowed me to do a little more lifting then usual. I was able to lift a few boxes. I sorted out books for tomorrow's class. Due to the weather conditions outside we did the tour differently.Cindy and I took the kids directly to the police station and had the hydro talk inside due to the weather. Today as always I made sure that I had a postive attitude I wanted to truly do the best that I could and I think I did . It is incredible to see the children learn so much within a short period of time and to know that I was a part of that is amazing. I love what I do here I love my placement and the people I work with. Each day I learn something new and it has made me a better person.

alav aka 5.0*

March 5th- back to teaching class !

Today was an interesting day for me I may say. I pulled a muscle in my back from falling at home this weekend so I was not able to lift or do as much work as I would on a normal day. What I did was count out DARE books for the police officers and place stickers on the back for sponsor purposes. Cindy was so compassionate and understanding with my situation. She helped my lift boxes and did not have me do anything that strained my injury and I was really appreciative of this , it meant alot. Again at the end of class I led the children out of the saftey village today, I gave it all the energy I had ... I think I did well even with an injury. Honestly working with them makes me smile , I love coming to work and spending half the day with them.

Signing out for today

alav aka 5.0*

Week 2 what I though :)

This week was awesome ! I am getting along with Cindy and all the other police officers just great and they are so nice ! I feel so comfortable when I am there , it is my second home. During this past week I think I learnt alot more about their career. Like Jodi for instance, Officer Richmond. I was so scared at her and first but know I look up to her, She tells me about her encounters on the job and I love listening to her, to gain someones insight is incredible. This is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life and I could not ask for anything more. This co op experience is opening me to new experiences and have given me a higher confidence level which I cannot explain, I just feel like I can conquer anything that life throws at me. Cindy has shown me so much in the past few weeks and she has been patient with me and I cannot ask for anything more!

Mr Grace to be honest I trully think that co op should be mandatory and they should just scrap the idea of volunteer work. At least with co op your gaining experience in the work place. Truthfully half of the stuff I have done I do not think I would have done before ... THANK YOU !!! !

alav aka 5.0*

March 2 2007

Again today the buses were cancelled but we did have a few things that needed to be done. Police Day is run every year in the municipality. What this allows police to do is get involved more with the community, they do this by playing games, showing demonstations and talking with the people living in Halton. Cindy Lawrence , my supervisor is allowing the safety village to be open to the public. I am volunteering for this event and so are the past co op students. What Cindy and I had to do was meet up with Seargeant Brian, one of the police officers in charge of this event. It was basically a meeting to discuss this years police day, and I am in charge of making the display; elmer the elephant. We then went to check mail and drop it off to the other officer working in the vacinity around us.

When we got back to the safety village I counted out books for the classes and then cound out books for Officer Richmond (Jodi) who is awesome !! Today she was telling me about her encounters on the job and I love every moment of it . Honestly you must get sick of hearing it but I love my co op !!

alav aka 5.0*

March 1 2007

Today we did not do much at co op. The school buses were cancelled so there fore we did not teach a class. So what I did was count books,the police officers do not start to teach DARE till later this month so what I did was count the number of books needed and the number of name tags . What I realised today was that the weather can have an impact on what we do at the safety village.

alav aka 5.0 *