Peel - The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 11 to 17. Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the work police do to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week.

"Police officers in Peel work hard to keep our communities safe, and the Peel board recognizes their tremendous contributions," says Janet McDougald, chair of the board. "Police Appreciation Week is an opportunity for staff and students to thank the officers who dedicate themselves to protecting our communities and give them the special recognition they truly deserve."

Students, staff and parents will recognize their neighbourhood police officers in their own ways. During this week, some schools in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will hold special activities and set up displays that honour police work, and promote working together to enhance public safety and security. A special poster produced by the board will be displayed in every school and work site.

Centennial Senior Public School in Brampton held an assembly culminating three weeks of campaigning to raise money for Cops for Cancer on April 25. In partnership with the Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU), students raised over $5,200 for cancer research, and the school's NPU officers Shawn Artkin and Wayne Parkins and Inspector Cheryl Wilson shaved their heads in recognition of the school achieving its fundraising goal.

On Friday, May 16,  the staff and students of Caledon East Public School will host a breakfast for  Ontario Provincial Police officers.  The student-organized breakfast will show appreciation to community officers for everything that they do for the community—from keeping it safe, to educating students through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

National Police Week is a time to forge stronger relationships between police services and the communities they serve. It began in 1970 with a collaborative effort between the Ministry of the Solicitor General and its provincial counterparts.