School Safety

News reports in recent years show that violence has unfortunately become a very real part of our lives and the lives of our children. By being aware and prepared, we can do our part to protect our children and keep our schools and communities safe. The following tips can help us combat school and community violence.

• Be involved with your child’s social life, especially during middle and high school. Pay attention to what your child is saying as well as his or her attitude and dress.
• Teach your children to be kind to others and follow the “Golden Rule.”
• Get involved in your child’s school. Be visible and get to know your child’s teachers, school officials and other school employees.
• Talk to your child about discipline, its need and importance and how your family’s discipline may differ from another’s.
• Have age-appropriate conversations with your child about violence that appears on television, in movies and throughout the world. Listen and discuss. Pay attention to your child’s thoughts and concerns.
• Teach your child to solve problems without physical violence. Encourage healthy conflict resolution.
• Make sure your child understands his or her’s school discipline policy, including the policy on bullying. If there is no policy on bullying in place at your child’s school, help develop one.
• If you own a gun, keep it locked away in safe place and exercise gun safety.
• Teach your student the important and life-saving difference between “tattling” and “reporting.” If your child hears of a violent act of the plans for one, make certain it is reported to the proper school authorities. “Reporting” can save lives.
• You are a great resource in violence prevention. Help your child understand violence is never the answer.