Dear BCTHS Families:
BCTHS is committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety, security, and well-being of our students and staff. To do this, we have involved community-wide programs and initiatives involving parents, teachers, administrators, local law enforcement, mental health, and wellness professionals and elected officials to take meaningful action to protect our students. One of the most recent initiatives is the Safe2SaySomething (S2SS) system. On January 17 &18, 2019, BCTHS students will be introduced to and trained with the S2SS initiative by S2SS staff. To see the PowerPoint presentation your child will see, please click
The “Safe2Say Something” (S2SS) anonymous reporting program, mandated under Pennsylvania’s Act 44, teaches students, teachers, and administrators how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and Say Something to a trusted adult OR use its anonymous reporting system. Specifically, the program educates participants to:
- Recognize the signs and signals of at-risk behaviors – especially within social media.
- Take every sign and signal seriously; act quickly to get help by talking to a trusted adult, OR
- Report it anonymously through the S2SS system via phone, mobile app, or website.
- Respond and manage the tip via a school-based multi-disciplinary educator and administrator teams.
- Sustain the curriculum and awareness through student clubs, in-school activities, and other events.
Our students often are aware of the problems their peers are facing, so we must empower them to know the danger signs and give them the tools to help each other with the assistance of trained and caring adults. Many of these conversations are taking place on social media. Therefore it is critical that we teach our students to be looking out for one another as these digital conversations are taking place. S2SS teaches them what to look for in the text, video, and photos while empowering them to act quickly to help a fellow student.
The S2SS program is being provided through Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a nation-wide non-profit organization. SHP’s programs are in 50 states, with 10,000+ schools and over 5.5 million students and adults trained. They have a track record, reputation, and knowledge of how to work effectively with kids, parents, and teachers to improve school safety and culture. The program is age-appropriate and research-based. They also have funding to provide and sustain the program at no cost to BCTHS (and all PA schools).
We anticipate that S2SS will help reduce school violence, suicides, and threats; it will help reduce bullying and cyberbullying; help intervenes upon cutting, drug use, racial conflicts, and other violent and victimization acts.
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Principal, Mr. Azar or our Assistant Principal, Ms. Scott. You can also review more information at Pennsylvania’s Safe2Say Something website - https://www.safe2saypa.org/.
The Parent Brochure, Parent Overview, and PowerPoint Presentation can be viewed by clicking on the requested document.
Sincerely,
Mr. Henry DeGeorge
Administrative Director