Spring Mills High School student leadership team talks about safety at Potomack Intermediate School

Berkeley County Schools kicks off annual student safety presentations

Berkeley County Schools

March 11, 2026

Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on March 11, 2026, link to article HERE.

Berkeley County Schools began its annual safety presentations, visiting elementary and intermediate schools throughout the county, kicking off the program at Potomack Intermediate School on Tuesday, March 10. Students from Spring Mills High School performed skits to show kids how to respond in difficult situations while first responders talked about what they can do in an emergency.

This year is the fourth straight year the schools have hosted the presentations. Elice Gregory, director of student support services, explained that the schools put together presentations for several years, but wanted to revamp them back in 2023. Since then, the high school students have stepped up to make it their own, creating a friendly competition between the different student leadership teams.

Four of the Spring Mills High School leadership students that visited Potomack Intermediate to talk with the fifth grade included Tyler Kaufmann, Jill Brown, Amber Hernandez and Peyton Henry. Kaufman and Brown participated last year and had so much fun that they were happy to do it again. They believe that having high schoolers like them come talk to students about issues like bullying and vaping because they are more likely to listen.

“Sometimes kids just don’t want to listen to adults,” Hernandez said. “When they see us, who are closer to their age and more relatable, they are more likely to listen.”

“Many of these kids know us by name,” Brown added. “So being able to come and teach them makes a big impact on them.”

Kaufmann and Hernandez added that they both want to be teachers as well. Visiting the school and interacting with the kids gives them experience that will prepare them for their future careers. They hope that after hearing from them, students will be encouraged to continue making good decisions.

“I hope that they know to make safe choices throughout their life that they see modeled in us,” Kaufmann said. “I hope that we inspired them to do that.”

“I also hope they know that there are people around them that they can go to,” Henry added. “There are teachers and mentors who give them a safe space to go if something is going on in their life.”

However, by far their favorite part was seeing the kids' reactions as the students dance, give high fives and make the presentation fun. They invited the Spring Mills High School mascot to interact. Brown said that she noticed that even though some students came in with a sad or angry face, they left with a smile.

After hearing from the high school students, Potomack Intermediate also heard from School Safety Officers, Student Resource Officer Darrell Cox and Martinsburg Fire Department Ethan Knotts about what to do in an emergency. The main message was, “See something, say something,” encouraging kids to talk with a trusted adult.