Students Safe At School: A Proactive Approach

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Students Safe At School A Proactive
Approach
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EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS

• Larry Lezotte Effective Schools
• A safe and orderly environment is one of the 7
  characteristics of effective schools.
• Schools must be a safe and secure place in order
  to enhance learning.

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Section 1 OPC Video

• Put yourself in the place of
• A student, and identify some of their fears re
  their safety at school
• 2) A parent, and the fears you may have
  regarding the safety of your child at school

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Legislation Overview

• Legal authority for administrators comes under
  the following titles in the Act
• Duties of Principal
• Access to School Premises
• Code of conduct
• Suspensions, mandatory and discretionary
• Expulsions, mandatory and discretionary

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DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL

• Section 265 (1) (a) and (1) (m)
• Regulation 298 S11 (1)
• GuidelineOntario Schools Code of Conduct
• Standards of Behaviour

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ACCESS TO SCHOOL PREMISES

• Section 305 (1-5)
• Regulation 474/00
• Trespass to Property Act

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CODES OF CONDUCT

• Part XIII Behaviour, discipline and safety
  S. 301-303
• GuidelineOntario Schools Code of Conduct
• Board/Police Protocols

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SUSPENSIONS

• Mandatory, S. 306
• Discretionary, S. 307
• Review of Suspension, S. 308
• Programs for Suspended Students, S.312

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EXPULSION

• Mandatory, S. 309
• Discretionary, S. 310
• Appeal of Expulsion, S. 311
• Programs for Expelled Students, S. 312

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A SAFE SCHOOL

• Brainstorming Activity
• Relate to your school or the school your children
  attend. What characteristics would you like to
  see in a safe school?
• Section 2 of Video

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EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

• Watch Section 3 of the Video and itemize the
  initiatives used with the strategies listed on
  the sheet in the binder.

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SITUATIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR THREATS TO SCHOOL
SAFETY

1. Assess/Act
2. Communicate
3. Investigate
4. Document
5. Stabilize

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SEARCH AND SEIZURE GUIDELINES

• REFER TO FACT SHEET AND DISCUSS THE PROCEDURES
  THAT SHOULD BE USED FOR SEARCH AND SEIZURE

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TWO PROACTIVE STRATEGIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO SAFE
SCHOOLS ARE

1. Bullying Prevention Campaigns in Schools
2. Character Development Programs

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BULLYING PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS
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DEFINITIONS OF BULLYING

• Barbara Coloroso defines bullying as a conscious,
  wilful, and deliberate hostile activity intended
  to harm, induce fear, through the threat of
  further aggression and create terror.
• .from The Bully, The
  Bullied and the Bystander

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More definitions

• An individual is being bullied or victimized when
  he/she is exposed repeatedly and over time to
  negative action on the part of one or more
  students. (Olweus, 1991)
• The wilful, conscious desire to hurt another and
  put him/her under stress. (Tattum and Tattum,
  1992)

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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL IN BULLYING
PREVENTION PROGRAMS?

• The Principal is the most important person in the
  school for bullying prevention.
• Bullying Prevention Programs must take a whole
  school approach, however.

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INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

1. Do not minimize, rationalize, or explain
   behaviour.
2. Reassure the child that what is happening is not
   his or her fault.
3. Teach children how to respond appropriately.
4. Encourage children to report bullying that they
   experience or witness

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ACTIONS TO TAKE TO CREATE A SAFE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT

1. Watch for instances of bullying and take the
   initiative to respond as needed, even when
   children do not report.
2. Listen attentively to reports of bullying, taking
   action as needed and providing timely follow-up.
3. Review all previous incidents of injury or loss
   in the school.

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ACTIONS TO TAKE TO CREATE A SAFE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT

1. Review how an incident was handled by school
   administrators and what could have been done to
   reduce the risk of injury.
2. Continually re-evaluate policies and procedures
   to ensure that they cover foreseeable risks of
   harm

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NEW MINISTRY INITIATIVESHAPING SAFER SCHOOLS
A BULLYING PREVENTION ACTION PLAN
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HIGHLIGHTS OF BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM

• Kids Help Phone Expansion
• Registry for Prevention Program
• Mandatory Bullying Prevention Programs in Every
  School
• Funding for Staff Training
• 1 Million High Challenge Grant

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ACTION PLANS FOR SCHOOLS

• Conduct a School Climate Assessment
• Evaluate Possible Programs with Program
  Evaluation Tool
• Choose a School Bullying Prevention Program
• Provide Training and School Resources
• Incorporate the Bullying Prevention Policy into
  the School Code of Conduct

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ACTION PLANS FOR SCHOOLS (CONTD)

• Ensure Responses to Reporting Represent the four
  As Affirm, Ask, Assess Safety and Action
• Engage the Wider Community
• Bullying Prevention Program Evaluation

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POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR ADMINISTRATORS RESULTING
FROM BULLYING BEHAVIOUR

• What is the legal standard expected of educators?
• What are the duties and responsibilities of
  principals, teachers and other school staff in
  dealing with bullying?
• How can administrators minimize legal liability?

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CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS

• Character development is the development of
  attributes that are necessary for responsible
  citizenship.
• These attributes must be promoted explicitly,
  modelled, taught, expected, celebrated and
  consciously practiced.

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GOALS OF CHARACTER EDUCATION

1. Foster a climate of respect for self and others.
2. Develop attributes of responsible citizenship.
3. Improved interpersonal relationships.
4. Greater self-discipline.
5. A positive school culture.
6. Fewer behavioural problems.
7. Higher academic achievement.

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YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

• CHARACTER MATTERS
• www.yrdsb.on.ca

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BELIEF STATEMENT FOR SAFE SCHOOLS

• ALL INDIVIDUALS DESERVE TO COME TO A SCHOOL
  ENVIRONMENT THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND SAFE