School Safety
Petaluma City Schools is committed to the safety of all students and staff on our campuses. Our focus is on the following four pillars: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Resources related to each pillar are linked below.
Prevention
One of the most important prevention methods is proactively providing resources to those in need. Click here to see links to resources for our families and community.
Preparedness
Response
The Essential Five is a set of immediate action responses intended to be implemented quickly in a variety of emergency situations. When an emergency occurs, staff members must take immediate steps to protect themselves, their students, and others on campus.
The Essential Five Emergency ResponsesRecovery
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Talking to Children About Violence and School Shootings
High-profile acts of violence, particularly school shootings, can cause stress, trauma, anxiety, or other emotional responses. The resources below provide guidance in helping students navigate their emotions and trauma in a safe and healthy way while also helping you process your own feelings and responses.
Below are some tips from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) for talking to children and young adults:
- Reassure children they are safe. Validate their feelings and let them express their feelings, but emphasize that schools are very safe.
- Make time to talk. Watch for clues for when they want to talk and let their questions guide you in how much information to share.
- Keep explanations developmentally appropriate. Common Sense Media provides excellent recommendations for taking an age-based approach to discussing school shootings.
- Review safety procedures. This includes the Big Five safety response procedures at school and procedures at home.
- Observe their mental state. Watch for changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns and seek the help of a mental health professional if you are concerned.
- Limit news covering recent events. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion; be mindful of the conversations held in front of children.
- Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health, but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.
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Supporting Children After a Tragedy
- Going Back to School After a Tragedy (Child Mind Institute)
- Caring for Kids After a School Shooting (Child Mind Institute)
- Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Psychological Association)
- Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)
- Helping Youth After Community Trauma
- Talking to Children about the Shooting
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Trauma and Disaster Mental Health
- Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting
Many of the provided resources were created by the San Mateo County Office of Education and are used by Petaluma City Schools. We thank them for their coordinated efforts in school safety. We have benefited greatly from their work.