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North Adams Colegrove Park Students Thank Police Officers
By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Correspondent
10:52PM / Sunday, March 20, 2016
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Students in James Holmes' class, teachers, administrators and police officers pose after a thank-you presentation for officers who have worked with the class.


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Colgrove Park Elementary seventh-graders invited Police Officers David Lemieux and Kyle Cahoon in for a presentation last week to thank them for their service and classroom involvement.

The week before, the officers had read "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" to James Holmes' classes for Read Across America day.

After the reading, the officers stayed and talked to the kids about being a police officer.

Soon after they broke into song and dance.

"These guys love doing stuff for kids," Holmes said. "They could of left after they read the book but they hung around a while ... and the next thing you know we started singing and dancing. The guys had a good time the kids had a ball."

The classroom relived the event this past Thursday during a special thank-you presentation the kids put together.

The presentation was spearheaded by students Ryan Goodell and Alyse Koloc who wanted to thank Lemieux and Cahoon for taking time out of their day to visit the school.  

"I came up with the idea of making a PowerPoint to show how much we care about them and thank them for protecting our community," Ryan said. "They are really great guys and I think they deserve it ... they are the best role models that we have ever seen."

Alyse said all of the students wrote thank-you letters to the officers.

"I wanted to help Ryan so I gave him some ideas and everyone else helped too," Koloc said. "It's important because they don't get that much thanks for doing stuff for us."

After the students read their letters and gave them to the officers, the students played a slideshow presentation with photos from Read Across America Day, thank-you letters, and the officers' badges.

Lemieux said he appreciated the presentation.

"It's nice to get thanked," Lemieux said. "We are thanked by a lot of people but not like this."

Cahoon said he enjoyed interacting with the students and it is a nice change of pace.

"It is a change from what we usually have to do," he said. "We don't always have normal interactions with people."  

After the presentation, Ryan made his way over to the computer and started the music, instantly inspiring a classroom dance break.

Lemieux said the singing and dancing has a purpose and helps to break down children's possible discomfort around police officers.  

"I think kids now when they see a cop, they may get a little freaked out," Lemieux said. "This loosens them up and it's fun for us and fun for them."

Holmes said Lemieux and Cahoon are part of a core group of police officers who are very involved in the classroom. The officers come in to teach Internet safety, forensics, and even run with the running club.

"My objective is kids need to know that these guys are real people and they are good guys," Holmes said. "They are here to help."

Colegrove Elementary students broke into dance with Officers David Lemieux and Kyle Cahoon soon after a special thank you presentation the students gave to the Officers. Students provided the Officers with letters thanking them for their service and involvement in the classroom. #NorthAdamsMa

Posted by iBerkshires.com on Thursday, March 17, 2016
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