Dep. Justus and a group of students eat pizza in the media center at Charles C. Bell Elementary.

A few of our youngest students recently learned about the value of hard work through board games and pizza parties. 

Dep. Ryan Justus, a school resource officer (SRO) with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), started a Candy Land tournament at three BCS schools with the goal of helping students learn about the rewards of perseverance. Kindergarten through second grade students at Charles C. Bell Elementary, W.D. Williams Elementary, and Black Mountain Primary had a bracketed tournament with the champions sitting down to some delicious pizza from Pomodoros Greek & Italian Café with Dep. Justus and other SROs. They also got a visit from BCSO therapy K-9 Kora.
 
“Not everybody can win every time, but if you’re not scared of failing, if you keep trying, you’ll get better,” Dep. Justus said. “That’s how you become a real winner.”
 
SROs are sworn deputies who commit to extra training to prepare them for this unique role in our schools. Aside from protecting our students and staff, they focus on building relationships and encouraging students to make good choices.

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