Kia ora katoa, I am Senior Constable Ross Mitchell (“Constable Ross”) the newly appointed School Community Officer for Selwyn District. I look after 32 schools in the area including those on Banks Peninsula and have been a serving police officer for 23 years, the last 10 in this role in Canterbury schools. 

My job is partnering with schools to train road patrollers, helping to deliver safety programmes such as Keeping Ourselves Safe, road safety, bullying prevention, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, healthy relationships and assisting schools with general problem solving. I can be found in classroom spaces face to face with students, in the senior leadership offices, the staffroom, playground or monitoring road safety outside schools during drop off and pick up times. 

I am looking forward to getting to know the Lemonwood Grove School community and intend to be a friendly familiar face within it so don’t be afraid to say hi!