Woonsocket Elementary Schools To Start 'High 5 Fridays'

WOONSOCKET, RI — Starting this week, students at Woonsocket elementary schools will end their weeks with high fives from the city's police officers and firefighters. The "High Five Fridays" program is aiming to ensure a weekly presence of public safety officials at the local schools. This is a chance for them to interact with students in an enjoyable, positive and instructive way, city officials say.

"This is a great opportunity for our public safety officers to be a role model for our elementary school children and to do it in a fun and friendly way," said Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. "Being greeted by our police and fire personnel as they leave school may be the highlight of a child's week and could inspire them to greater achievement in school or at home."

Each Friday, firefighters and police officers will come to an assigned elementary school 15 minutes before school dismissal and gather outside the doors of that school's main lobby. When the students are released, they will give departing students a high five, a low five, a fist pump or an old-fashioned handshake.

The public safety officials will also connect with students by wishing them a safe weekend, congratulating them on their schoolwork or answering questions about what it's like to be a firefighter or police officer.

This week, the public safety officials are scheduled to visit Coleman Elementary School.

"I am proud of our Public Safety Officials as they continue to find new ways to build partnerships with the youth of our community," said Director of Public Safety Eugene Jalette in a statement.