Safe2SaySomething Program

As a school we are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students and educators. Recently, a new initiative was passed in Pennsylvania called Act 44. This initiative is mandated in all schools within the state and is called “Safe2Say Something” (S2SS).

S2SS is an anonymous reporting system whereby individuals are encouraged to say something to a trusted adult, or use its reporting connection, when they perceive someone may be a threat to themselves or others. Specifically, the program educates students to:

• Recognize the signs of at-risk behaviors – especially within social media
•  Take every sign and signal seriously
• To act quickly by talking to a trusted adult or report it through the S2SS hot line

We will begin to introduce the program to our middle school students as is mandated by state law. Before this introduction, we wanted to let you know why and provide some details about these efforts. Our students are often aware of the problems their peers are facing. 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. As you know, most 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 texts, videos 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. A representative from SHP will conduct the training for our Jr. High. This program is ageappropriate and researched-based. The initiative is implemented with the anticipation that S2SS will help stop school shootings, suicides, and gun threats; it will help reduce bullying and cyberbullying; help intervene upon cutting, drug use, racial conflicts, and other violent and victimization acts. An important component of the program is a hotline number for anonymous reporting. The Hotline Number is 1-844-5-SAYNOW.