Together, making adif ference
A Family Guide to Building Safer, Stronger Schools
Together, making a difference!
Creating a Safe School Is a Shared Journey
Dear Parents and Families,
As parents and caregivers, you play a powerful role in school safety. While schools take the lead on policies, drills, and procedures, true school safety is a shared responsibility—built through trust, relationships, and connection between home and school. (Bryk & Schneider, 2021). Our school-wide participation in the We’ve Got Your Back (WGYB) program goes beyond school safety rules and drills. At its core, the WGYB program builds real-life skills that students can use every day to stay safe and connected. Through age-appropriate lessons and ongoing practice, students learn to:
• Stay alert and make thoughtful, safe decisions
• Regulate their emotions during stressful or unexpected moments
• Support themselves and others when help is needed
• Strengthen their sense of belonging and build positive relationships with peers and adults
Building Awareness as the Foundation for Safety
The goal of the WGYB program is to develop our students’ skills related to situational awareness with a focus on well-being through the 5 Cs of Consciousness, Compassion, Confidence, Courage, and Community.
The WGYB Approach Does Not Use Scare Tactics
At the heart of We’ve Got Your Back is situational awareness; the ability to recognize what’s happening around you, understand how you’re feeling in the moment, and make calm, safe decisions. This skill is foundational for everything else students learn in the program. Situational awareness is not just about reacting during a crisis. It’s about developing the habit of paying attention, thinking ahead, and being present, whether it’s during a fire drill, a conflict with a classmate, or simply walking through the school hallway.
Reducing Panic and Building Confidence to Act
When a safety event occurs, it’s essential that students feel empowered, not overwhelmed. With WGYB students are prepared to stay grounded, think clearly, and work with others, adults and peers, to respond safely and effectively. Rather than reacting with fear, students learn how to:
1. Understand and manage their emotional responses, even under stress
2. Collaborate with others by listening, supporting, and following directions
3. Recognize when something feels off and take thoughtful action
4. Step up as a helper or leader, offering support to classmates when needed
“A calm, informed child is a safer child.”
Try This at Home:
Ask: “If something doesn’t feel right, what could you do?”
Role-play simple what-if scenarios, like noticing a classmate who seems upset, and brainstorm ways to help or get support.conversation.
Try This at Home:
Create a “Trusted Adult Map” with your child. Draw or list the people at school, home, or in your community they could go to for help. Keep it visible (like on the fridge) and update it as needed.
Working Together—Let’s Talk and Listen
When schools and families talk regularly and honestly about safety, they build a culture of trust. Students feel more secure when they know that the adults in their lives are working together to keep them safe at home and school.
Empowering Families: You know your child best
Your understanding of your child is one of the most valuable resources we have when it comes to creating a safe and connected school environment.
When safety routines, language, and expectations are echoed at home and at school, students are more prepared to make safe and thoughtful choices wherever they go.
You can strengthen these efforts at home by talking regularly with your child about school safety routines, modeling calm and thoughtful responses to everyday challenges, and reinforcing simple but powerful messages such as “See something, say something (Mapp et al., 2022; Constantino, 2020).”
Staying Connected
We invite all families to stay involved and engaged. Participating in school safety events, workshops, or family conferences also helps deepen your connection with your child’s learning environment and shows that you are part of the safety team.
When families, educators, and students come together, we strengthen the foundation of trust, care, and community. You are an essential part of that shared effort.
We’ve Got Your Back
—and we’re grateful you’ve got ours
By working together, we create a culture where students know they are not alone, where their needs are heard, and where their well-being comes first.
Try This at Home: Practice a calming strategy together like “5-4-3-2-1 grounding“ before bed or during car rides. Ask: “Can you name 5 things you can see right now?” Use these moments to build emotional regulation into your daily rhythm.
Stay AWARE:
A quick family safety check-in
Use this simple AWARE guide to keep safety part of your regular conversations at home.
A — Ask Questions: Check in with your child about their day, their feelings, and any moments that stood out to them. Open, ongoing conversations build trust and confidence.
W — Watch for Changes: Be aware of shifts in behavior, mood, or routines—whether in your child, yourself, or the broader school community. These changes can offer important clues about how someone is feeling.
A — Advocate for Safety: Remind your child that they can always talk to a trusted adult if something feels wrong or uncertain—at home, at school, or anywhere in between.
R — Review Situational Awareness: Take a few moments each week to reflect together. Talk about what your child notices on their way to and from school, how they handle situations that feel uncomfortable, who their trusted adults are in different settings, and which safety routines they remember and feel ready to use.
E — Engage with the School Community: Join a Safety Chat, attend school events, or reach out to staff. Staying connected helps you stay informed and shows your child that safety is a shared priority.
