Sheriff's Department Visits Grape Creek Elementary for Valentines Day

This afternoon, Grape Creek Elementary held a Valentine’s Day Party for the local Tom Green County Sheriff’s Department, including Sheriff David Jones and eight of his officers: Lt. Keith Muncey, Lt. Stayce Speck, Sgt. Quentin Williams, Deputy Jonathan Carmona, Corporal Sandy Ruiz, Sgt. Jason Corbell, Deputy Grayson Hiers and Corporal Joe Ybarra.

Kids from kindergarten to fifth grade patiently waited for the Sheriff’s Department to approach. As the officers rounded the corner of the building, the kids began to smile and yelled, “Hi!” They were so excited to hand each officer a unique Valentine’s Day card filled with sweet messages; some even had candy in them.

After the officers were done meeting and greeting students in each grade, the students invited them to join each classroom’s Valentine’s Day party.

As they walked into the classroom, the children were very excited to talk and spend time with the officers one on one. The children and teachers made sure to give each officer a special treat. In every room, there were tables filled with sweets and sodas. Kids had plates filled with cookies, chocolate’s and chips. Ice cream sundaes and root beer floats were consumed as fast as the kids could swallow them down.

This special Valentine's treat was coordinated by Angie Smetana, the Primary Principal and Leigh Ann Stephens, the Intermediate Principal at Grape Creek Elementary. Principal Smetana coordinates kindergarten, first and second grade. Principal Stephens coordinates third, fourth and fifth grade. A total of 540 kids attend Grape Creek Elementary, so the officers received a lot of love.

This is the first year that Grape Creek Elementary has held this event for the Sheriff’s Department. Stephens said, “The kids have been talking about this all week, and the fact that so many officers came today is a testament to the fact that they are excited about it too.”

Sheriff Jones stated, “We always enjoy coming and meeting the kids on a good term, so they know that we are here for them and they can come to us at any time.”

The Sheriff’s Department has definitely made personal involvement with these kids a top priority.  Lt. Muncey started the DARE program at Grape Creek Elementary.  Muncey said, “It feels great to be loved by all the kids in this school; it’s a good feeling.”

Kathryn Wallace, a fifth grade teacher, explained that the kids had just gotten done with benchmark testing, and that it had been a very stressful week for them. Wallace said, “The officers are amazing. They do wonderful stuff for our kids and this neighborhood, and we appreciate them more than they can imagine.”

Overall, the children were so ecstatic to see all of the officers spending the day with them. One student said, “Valentine's is a special day for all of us to join together and have a great day.”