As the school day ended recently at Kempsville Meadows Elementary, an announcement was made on the loudspeaker.
“Shout out to Noah Mason! Congratulations!”
The safety patrol captain was not only named the AAA “Regional Patroller of the Year,” but also the “National Patroller of the Year.”
Noah oversees about 20 fifth grade school safety patrollers who make sure students arrive and leave school safely each day, either in vehicles or on school buses.
The school’s fifth graders were summoned to the school cafeteria.
AAA Tidewater spokesman Ryan Adcock explained that each AAA office in the U.S. submits a winner to the national office.
“Out of all the safety patrollers in the entire United States, they thought Noah was the best!” he told Noah and his peers.
Applause erupted.
Principal Christa Markert offered congratulations.
“You are always making good choices,” she told Noah. She thanked him for doing a wonderful job overseeing the safety patrollers.
In addition, he raises and lowers the American flag in front of the school every day and has shown others the proper way to respectively handle and fold the flag, she noted.
“There are so many things you’ve done to make Kempsville Meadows a better place,” she said.
School Resource Officer Kris Sessoms said Noah is a great leader. Each month they work together and choose “Safety Patrollers of the Month” and highlight the individuals on a hallway bulletin board.
“He puts a lot of thought into that,” Sessoms said.
AAA Tidewater Virginia partners with elementary schools in Hampton Roads for the safety patrol program. They also provide “School’s open, drive carefully,” signs if requested at the beginning of the school year and classroom presentations for all ages on driver education, pedestrian safety and more.
School safety patrol advisor Cynthia Byrd encouraged Noah to fill out the application for the local AAA honor.
In her recommendation on Noah’s video submission, she included an instance when the school lost power just before dismissal.
Noah worked closely with the school administration to guide students from their classrooms to their mode of transportation home, she said.
She applauded his “quiet leadership and clear communication.”
Noah’s proud parents are Angelica and Afzal Chaudhry. They said their son – the fourth of five siblings – has a great attitude.
“Even when things aren’t going the way we plan, he makes the best of every situation,” his mother said.
Noah said he is honored to receive the award. “Being on the safety patrol makes me feel proud and responsible,” he said.
Safety patroller Bennett Merrell said Noah is an outstanding captain who deserves to be recognized. “We are all happy he won,” Bennett said.
