Derek Winget was shied by all the attention, but his parents, Guelph Police and CAA South Central Ontario believed he deserved all he got.
Winget won $500, received a trophy for himself, and a plaque for his École élémentaire
L’Odyssée in Guelph for doing his very best as a school bus patroller. The 10-year-old said he was just doing what he was trained to do as a patroller.
One of his duties is to know exactly how many kids should be on his bus, and to make an exact count as students disembark. One morning earlier this year, his dogged determination to do his job right may have averted a tragedy, participants in a Monday morning ceremony at the school heard.
Winget performed his routine count and realized immediately that a junior kindergarten student was still on the bus. Apparently the child was hiding. But before Winget could alert the driver, the bus door closed and the bus pulled away.
He acted fast, notifying a teacher that was close at hand. The bus driver was soon contacted and the child was promptly returned to the school.
For his quick actions, Derek received the CAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award. There are about 25 other school bus patrollers at École élémentaire L’Odyssée, and hundreds more in Guelph schools. Derek’s action was recognized as exceptional.
Members of the media crowded around to interview him. He wasn’t thrilled by that, but his schoolmates certainly were. They cheered him on.
Derek was surprised by the recognition, and especially surprised by the cash prize. He said he had no idea what he would do with the money, but he would probably bank it for now.
“I feel good about doing the right thing,” he said, adding that the recognition might make him even more safety conscious.
“It’s a big surprise for us, but we’re super proud,” said Derek’s dad, Jeff Winget.
Linda Winget said her son’s action are not surprising.
“He’s calm and he has a good head on his shoulders,” she said. “He makes the right decisions normally, and we’re happy to see he made the right one this time.”
Guelph Police Inspector Garry Male said school patrollers have an important role to play in school safety. Through their leadership and volunteerism they help keep children safe, whether in the role of bus patrollers or crossing guards.
“Bus patrollers make sure students get on and off the buses in a safe fashion, just as Derek did,” Male said. “Derek was able to alert his teacher, the teacher was able to alert the bus company and have the driver return. A bad situation was definitely avoided that day.”
Since 1929, CAA has sponsored the CAA School Safety Patrol Program. Nicole Savage, CAA South Central Ontario’s community relations specialist, said over the life of the program there have been over 80 stories of life-saving situations.
Derek Winget recognized a fellow student was in jeopardy and he acted quickly to protect that student, she indicated.
“We’re very proud when these patrollers can think of safety and be leaders in their community,” she said. “We train them to know who is on the bus, and to know their students around them. This shows Derek’s leadership and maturity at such a young age.”
