ROCHELLE — Rain or shine, blustery winter day or in the heat, Jim and Joan Birchall are there.

The husband and wife team are crossing guards with the Rochelle Elementary School District, stationed at Central School. Jim has the back corner at Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue, while Joan covers Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue.

Both enjoy what they do, happily greeting students on their way to and from school.

Sometimes they exchange a little conversation with the kids. Joan also interacts with the teachers and the aides, as she is positioned closer to the parking areas.

“The superintendent comes by my corner…the teachers and aides, I do enjoy short conversations with them, talking to them as they go to work and come home,” Joan said.

Jim said most of the time students are in a hurry to go home or go to school, but will say hello.

The weather, for the most part, doesn’t bother them. Joan retired after 27 years as a rural carrier for the postal service and has always worked in all temperatures. Jim previously worked for communications companies in Indiana and in Texas.

“It’s nice, relatively, in the spring and fall. Winters are a little bit, but you get used to it after awhile,” Jim said.

Although the work schedule is not long and tedious, school crossing guards have a major responsibility to help students safely cross the street. At times, crossing guards will have to stop traffic. Both Jim and Joan recommend it for young parents with school-aged students or retirees such as themselves.

Crossing guards in Rochelle are employed by the Rochelle Police Department. The Birchalls report to Sandy Sullivan, Communications Supervisor with the department.

“When you have kids in school, the hours are perfect because you get those days off,” Joan said. “It’s wonderful for retired people like us. Sandy is great to work for.”