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Below you will find some school safety tips that have recently been posted on the Iowa Department of Education web-site.  These tips are designed for both students and parents and are excerpts from the Iowa Department of Education Safe Schools Leadership Handbook.

SAFE SCHOOLS ACTION STEPS FOR STUDENTS

 

 

 

SAFE SCHOOLS ACTION STEPS FOR STUDENTS

 

There is much students can do to help create safe schools.

Talk to your teachers, parents, and counselor to find out how you can get involved and

do your part to make your school safe.

Here are some ideas that students in other schools have tried:

 

·         Listen to your friends if they share troubling feelings or thoughts. Encourage them to get help from a trusted adult, such as a school psychologist, counselor, social worker, leader from the faith community, or other professional. If you are very concerned, seek help for them. Share your concerns with your parents.

·         Create, join, or support student organizations that combat violence, such as Students Against Destructive Decisions or Young Heroes Program.

·         Work with local businesses and community groups to organize youth-oriented activities that help young people think of ways to prevent school and community violence. Share your ideas for how these community groups and businesses can support your efforts.

·         Organize an assembly and invite your school psychologist, school social worker, and school counselor, in addition to student panelists, to share ideas about how to deal with violence, intimidation, and bullying.

·         Get involved in planning, implementing, and evaluating your schools violence prevention and response plan.

·         Participate in violence prevention programs such as peer mediation and conflict resolution.

·         Use your new skills in other settings, such as the home, neighborhood, and community.

·         Work with your teachers and administrators to create a safe process for reporting threats, intimidation, weapon possession, drug selling, gang activity, graffiti, and vandalism. Use the process.

·         Ask for permission to invite a law enforcement officer to your school to conduct a safety audit and share safety tips, such as traveling in groups and avoiding areas known to be unsafe. Share your ideas with the officer.

·         Help to develop and participate in activities that promote student understanding of differences and that respect the rights of all.

·         Volunteer to be a mentor for younger students and/or provide tutoring to your peers.

·         Know your schools code of conduct and model responsible behavior. Avoid being part of a crowd when fights break out. Refrain from teasing, bullying, and intimidating peers.

·         Be a role model and take personal responsibility by reacting to anger without physically or verbally harming others.

·         Seek help from your parents or a trusted adult such as a school psychologist, social worker, counselor, or teacher if you are experiencing intense feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, or depression.

 

 

 

 

From the Iowa Department of Education Safe Schools Leadership Handbook. Reprinted October 2006

 

SAFE SCHOOLS TIPS FOR PARENTS

SAFE SCHOOLS TIPS FOR PARENTS

 

 

Parents can help create safe schools.

Here are some ideas that parents in other communities have tried:

 

·                     Discuss the schools discipline policy with your child. Show your support for the rules, and help your child understand the reasons for them.

·                     Involve your child in setting rules for appropriate behavior at home.

·                     Talk with your child about the violence he or she sees on television, in video games, and possibly in the neighborhood. Help your child understand the consequences of violence.

·                     Teach your child how to solve problems. Praise your child when he or she follows through.

·                     Help your child find ways to show anger that do not involve verbally or physically hurting others.

·                     When you get angry, use it as an opportunity to model these appropriate responses for your child, and talk about it.

·                     Help your child understand the value of accepting individual differences.

·                     Note any disturbing behaviors in your child. For example: frequent angry outbursts, excessive fighting and bullying of other children, cruelty to animals, fire setting, frequent behavior problems at school and in the neighborhood, lack of friends, and alcohol or drug use can be signs of serious problems. Get help for your child. Talk with a trusted professional in your childs school or in the community.

·                     Keep lines of communication open with your child, even when it is tough. Encourage your child always to let you know where and with whom he or she will be. Get to know your childs friends.

·                     Listen to your child if he or she shares concerns about friends who may be exhibiting troubling behaviors. Share this information with a trusted professional, such as the school psychologist, principal, or teacher.

·                     Be involved in your childs school life by supporting and reviewing homework, talking with his or her teacher(s), and attending school functions such as parent conferences, class programs, open houses, and PTA meetings.

·                     Work with your childs school to make it more responsive to all students and to all families. Share your ideas about how the school can encourage family involvement, welcome all families, and include them in meaningful ways in their childrens education.

·                     Encourage your school to offer before- and after-school programs.

·                     Volunteer to work with school-based groups concerned with violence prevention. If none exist, offer to form one.

·                     Find out if there is a violence prevention group in your community. Offer to participate in the groups activities.

·                     Talk with the parents of your childs friends. Discuss how you can form a team to ensure your childrens safety.

·                     Find out if your employer offers provisions for parents to participate in school activities.

 

 

From the Iowa Department of Education Safe Schools Leadership Handbook. Reprinted October 2006