PRESCOTT – Prescott School District offered a new class during summer school for middle schoolers that focuses on positive relationships with law enforcement, how to interact with officers and teaches the basic civics included in law enforcement.

The class ran for an hour each day for five days total starting on June 14. School Resource Officer and Prescott Police Officer Kris Stewart and Pierce County DARE officer Chad Koranda co-taught the class.

Michael Kosmalski, Malone Intermediate School Principal and Director of Teaching and Learning said, “Our community is fortunate to have the support from officers Koranda and Stewart who are willing to go the extra mile in building a better community together.”

This is the first summer this class has been offered, but the district intends to bring it back in future summers.

“This was a positive way for students to build that relationship with these officers that are in their schools,” Kosmalski said. The class is a way for middle schoolers who are becoming more aware of criminal justice and law in general to learn about different aspects and keep them informed. Kosmalski said, “We identified that the DARE program is great for our children but once they get into middle school and law starts being more of a part of their lives and there was that gap missing and this class helps with that.”

During the first week of the class, students learned basic civics such as the difference between law enforcement branches, the difference between city ordinances and laws and what a real court case might look like.

“The first week is more technical; they go through more of the book work, like what is a city ordinance versus a law and learning about the different roles of the branches of law enforcement like state troopers, the police department, sheriff’s department and what they do in our communities,” Kosmalski said. “Then they also look as what a court case actually looks like and the terminology you hear and see in those cases.”

The second week of the class was dedicated to more hands-on learning. The students were able to tour the police vehicles, learn about finger printing, go through a mock traffic stop and a mock crime scene.

“The second week they looked at the tools, so they see different uniforms, their tool belt and the kids get to experience handcuffs and how they work and then they tour the vehicles and learn about the equipment there as well,” said Kosmalski.

The second week also taught the students some life skills when it comes to interreacting with police officers.

“They got the opportunity to experience a mock traffic stop, both from the perspective of the officer and what are some of the things the officers do to make sure they are staying safe. And then they also sit in the driver’s seat which shows them what the lights look like in the mirrors and how you speak to an officer when they pull you over and why the officer stands slightly behind you and things like that,” Kosmalski said.

Many of the students were sixth graders, but the class was open to sixth-eighth graders.

One of the students Jude Boden said, “I like the class and all of the hands-on activities. I could tell the officers were trying to make it fun for us.”

Another student Collin Kosmalski said, “The class was really exciting and informative. The officers made the class fun, even the boring stuff.”

The district is planning to continue classes like this in the future.

The reasoning for this class is the lack of middle school classes offered during summer school programs. The goal of this class was to motivate more middle school students to participate in summer sessions. The class was also built around promoting a positive relationship with the law enforcement officers that they encounter daily.

Kosmalski said, “Without a doubt, this class has made a lasting impression on our students and helped build a positive experience and connection between our students and the law enforcement community.”

Photo courtesy of Prescott School District

Photo courtesy of Prescott School District

Photo courtesy of Prescott School District

Pierce County DARE Officer Chad Koranda going through evidence briefing with the class. (From left): Elisa Stoeckel, Collin Kosmalski, Jude Boden, Grace Ptacek, Koranda.

Officers Chad Koranda and Kris Stewart with the students of the summer school course. (From left): Sophia Lazarenko, Rowan Bauman, Andrew Schiller, Officer Kris Stewart, Jude Boden, Collin Kosmalski, Grace Ptacek, Elisa Stoeckel, Officer Chad Koranda. Not pictured: Emmett Stoeckel.