The CAMROSE BOOSTER, May 4, 2021 – Page 4
Doing the Cobra-Chicken Shuffle By Lori Larsen
“Be the best you can be and that goodness will spread outward” basically sums up the goal behind the Camrose Police Service CORE [Care for self and others, Online responsibility and integrity, Relationship with self (mental health) and with others, and Establishing boundaries] program offered to In an effort to encourage the grade 3 and 6 students throughout students to dedicate time and sinthe City of Camrose. cere effort into the CORE proThe CORE Program was cregram, Constable Fernhout taps ated and developed by the Caminto some unique ways to inspire rose Police Service (CPS) and is the students, including a promise based on the specific needs of the of a fun surprise if they complete youth in the community. CORE combines the strategies their booklets. “All of the grade three stuof a number of different programs dents at St. Patrick Catholic School and organizations including: not only completed their booklets, DARE, The Council, Edmonton’s but did so early,” praised Fernhout. Safe in 6 Program and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. The concept of developing healthy youth who, in turn, will create healthy connections to their communities is specific to Camrose Police Service. “As the School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Camrose Police Service, I feel one of the most important jobs I have is to teach children about how they can help and serve others in their community in healthy ways,” explained Camrose Police Service SRO officer Constable John Fernhout. “The CORE Program teachLori Larsen, es grade 3 and Camrose Booster 6 students that Camrose Police they have a core Service School at their cenResource tre made up of Officer Constable their body, mind John Fernhout and spirit. The finished his healthier they demonstration of the Cobra-Chicken keep their body, Shuffle to St. Patrick mind and spirit, Catholic School the stronger they Grade 3 students, will be and better with a token tree hug. able to serve the people around them.” Unique to Camrose, the CORE program revolves around one basic concept: youth who serve the communities around them in True to his word, Conhealthy ways will be motivated to stable Fernhout paid a surmake safe and healthy choices in prise visit to St. Pats on their own lives. Friday, April 16, to not only “We are very blessed and grateful to have the support and express his delight with the partnership of teachers, adminis- commitment of the students, trators, parents, and the students but to demonstrate that a themselves,” noted CPS Inspector little fun goes a long way. “We learn many lessons John Corbett. “We are very proud of our school resource program and from our mascot Cornelius all of the great work that Const. the Cobra-Chicken (a CanaFernhout and every other school da Goose) about community, resource officer and instructor has and leadership,” explained Fernhout. “I promised all the done in all of our local schools.” During the CORE program, Grade 3s at St. Pat’s that I students participate in seven basic would do the Cobra-Chicken lessons including: meet and greet; Shuffle if they completed introduction to the CORE Program their CORE booklets.” After one of the St. Pats and how it works; caring for yourteachers dropped off a bookself so you can serve others; online safety and integrity; relationship let of pictures and drawings with self and others; establish- showing the students’ gratiing boundaries; and making good tude, Fernhout immediately choices; followed by a graduation knew that he had to reciprocate. at the end. “This is what the program As part of the program, the students are tasked with main- is all about, loving and showtaining their CORE booklets, with ing gratitude to the people the goal of completing tasks and around us. One of the things earning points relative to CORE we talk about in CORE is CCP, mantra by the end of the program’s or Cobra-Chicken-Power. This is when we do something good seven lessons.
for someone else and it causes a chain reaction, and the others also involved feel good and pass it on.” So, on April 16, in an effort to show the students how grateful he was, Fernhout put his words into action with his version of the Cobra-Chicken shuffle coached by Fernhout’s wife Misty. “With the help of CPS Sergeant John Tomaszewski, Peace Officer Erin Van Kuppeveld, and St. Pat’s vice principal Michelle Nanias, we gave the Grade 3s the very first Cobra-Chicken Shuffle.” After three minutes of strutting his dancing skills outside in the front of the school, and to the amusement of the Grade 3 students, Fernhout ran over and hugged a tree. “I always tell my students to get outside and hug a tree. So I thought I would show them how its done at the end of my shuffle.” His actions spoke louder than any words could, as students, teachers and staff alike applauded, laughed and smiled at Fernhout’s demonstration of community spirit. “This past year
has certainly been particularly straining on all of the teachers and students in our schools, and this is an example of one small way that we can try to keep smiling and keep everyone’s spirits up,” commented Inspector Corbett. “We truly recognize how much of a positive impact we can have and what a privilege it is to be able to engage with all of these amazing kids in our schools.” Bringing CORE to the youth of the community is a passion for Fernhout, and knowing that the actions of one can ripple so far out is not only a lesson he teaches, but lives. “As youth grow up in our community, they become the core of our City,” he attested. “If we can educate and train our youth to make positive contributions to the people around them, then our youth will be stronger, and the communities around them will be stronger. The
Submitted CPS SRO Constable John Fernhout, front left, performs the Cobra-Chicken shuffle for St. Pat’s Grade 3 students while CPS Community Peace Officer Erin Van Kuppeveld holds on to CORE mascot Cornelius.
Submitted As a show of gratitude to CPS Constable Fernhout for teaching the CORE program, St. Patrick Catholic School Grade 3 student Jayda Boren drew a picture and wrote a note of thanks.
core values of the Camrose Police Service are centered on valuing our people and the community. We believe in being part of a strong team, acting with integrity, and caring for others.” Teaching trust, especially amidst youth and law enforcement, is vital in bridging gaps and building strong foundations in any community. “Youth who have trust and rapport with their local police service are more connected to the city in which they live. Strong communities develop from citizens who have integrity, care for one another, and the city in which they live. The CORE Program is dedicated to helping youth develop positive attitudes and behaviors regarding their own health so they can better serve the people and community around them.” To view the video, produced with the assistance of CPS dispatcher Kelsey Stratichuk, of Constable Fernhout shuffling his way into the hearts of St. Pat’s students and teachers, visit the Camrose Police Service Facebook page.
