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OCTOBER IS SCHOOL SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH
School safety is necessary to support the academic success of each child. Students and staff must feel safe before they can focus on instruction. The Ontario-Montclair School District (OMSD) recognizes that safety begins at home and carries throughout the school day and upon the return home. School safety planning and emergency preparedness are among educators’ most critical responsibilities. Therefore, school sites review and revise the School’s Safety Plan each year.
OMSD is committed to supporting our school communities to continue to be as prepared as possible and to maintain safe and secure school environments year-round. OMSD works in partnership with agencies and organizations to support school safety. Great work has already been done, but questions that should always remain at the forefront as we collaborate with our local Educational Partners include:
- “What more can we do to protect our students and staff?”
- “How can we develop expertise in designing and implementing effective plans?”
- “How can we expand our collaborative and communication efforts?”
- “How can we better share effective practices?”
I am asking for our OMSD community to promote school safety through the month of October, which is School Safety Awareness Month. Administrators will be asked to encourage participation from students, staff, and families to create activities and conversations and highlight areas of focus that promote the importance of school safety through the lenses of engagement, equity, encouragement, and education. OMSD will highlight these areas next month, but these topics will be addressed multiple times throughout the school year.
October 2-6, 2023: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Safety Awareness Week
October 9-13, 2023: Walk/Bike to School to Raise Safety Awareness to and from School
October 16-20, 2023: School Safety Preparedness Awareness Week
October 23-27, 2023: School Safety Staff Personnel Appreciation Week
October 30-31, 2023: See Something, Hear Something, Say Something Awareness Week
School safety is a community responsibility, and I want to thank our OMSD community for your ongoing partnership in these important efforts.
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