Category: Health and Safety

RESOURCES: Emergency Preparedness for Extracurricular Activities and Planning for Natural Hazards at School

The following resources are provided by U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center.

Planning for Natural Hazards that May Impact Students, Staff, and Visitors

The REMS TA Center offers a variety of Federal agency partner resources related to planning for natural hazards that may affect school districts, schools, institutions of higher education (IHEs), community partners, and parents | More

Emergency Preparedness for K-12 Extracurricular Activities 

The primary feature of emergency incidents is that when and where they happen is not predictable. An emergency can occur during any time of the school day and in any school or campus setting. Emergency management teams within schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education (IHE) have to account for a variety of settings and times when creating emergency operations plans (EOPs) to support their prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. It is recommended that incident response and emergency planning teams within schools and IHEs and their community partners take steps to ensure that they consider the various settings and times unique to their school and campus communities when conducting scenario-based planning, drills, and tabletop exercises designed to help test EOPs and to enhance overall emergency management planning. | More

See More News & Updates from the REMS TA Center

 

U.S. CDC Offers Health Tips for Back to School During COVID-19

As schools plan for a safe return to campus this year, it is critically important to consider the health and well-being of students and staff, and address issues with COVID-19, mental and physical health, and managing other chronic health conditions. When school health policies and practices are put in place, healthy students can grow to be healthy and successful adults. Learn what parents and teachers can do to help children have a successful school year.

“This return to school season is like no other. Schools must be prepared to protect children from COVID-19, while also addressing a wide array of other pandemic-related challenges returning students are facing,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH. “In addition to keeping students safe from COVID-19, they will need to provide safe and supportive school environments to promote student well-being and recovery.”

CDC offers these health tips that will make for a successful school year for students, teachers, school staff and their families.

  • Take COVID-19 seriously. Students benefit from in-person learning and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority. CDC has COVID-19 specific guidance for K-12 schools and Colleges and Universities.
  • Mental health is important to the learning process. CDC data shows that the pandemic has created significant stress and trauma for children, adolescents, and families. Schools can help promote student well-being with CDC evidence-based strategies like establishing safe and supportive school environments and referring students to appropriate mental and physical health services.
  • Routine vaccinations save lives. Getting required vaccines can help protect children and teens as they grow into adulthood. Making sure children get vaccinated is one of the most important things parents can do.
  • Washing hands stops germs. Handwashing with soap and water is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of colds, flu, and other diseases to others.
  • Eat well, be active, and get enough sleep. Make sure children drink plenty of water, limit sugary drinks, and practice healthy eating at home and school to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight and to support brain development and healthy growth. It’s also important to help kids get the recommended 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, as well as the right amount of sleep every night. Teens need at least 8 hours of sleep per night—younger students need at least 9 hours.
  • Be tobacco free. Youth use of any tobacco product is unsafe. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students. However, youth also report using cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and other tobacco products. Tobacco products contain nicotine which is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain – specifically the areas of the brain that are responsible for learning, memory, and attention. For help to quit, you can talk with your healthcare provider or visit CDC.gov/quit.
  • Stay cool in the heat. With above average temperatures in multiple parts of the country, it is important to limit outdoor activity during the middle of the day when the sun is hottest. Wear and reapply sunscreen, seek shade, drink plenty of water, and know how to prevent heat-related illness in athletes.
  • Wear helmets and protect your head. Children and adolescents can get a concussion in any number of school settings ranging from school sports activities to the hallway, the playground, and even the cafeteria. Get information on preventing and responding to concussions and supporting students when they return to school after a concussion.
  • Help children with special health care needs. The pandemic can present unique challenges for children with special health care needs. CDC has tips for helping these children make the transition back to the classroom.

The bottom line

Healthy students are better learners. Following these health tips can lead students to a successful and healthy school year. For additional information on health and learning, visit CDC’s Healthy Schools site and CDC’s adolescent health page to learn why schools are the right place for a healthy start.

BACK TO SCHOOL Resources for Schools and Districts: Key School Safety Elements and Topics to Consider

With the start of a new school year underway, the safety and security of students, teachers, and staff remains top of mind for schools and districts across the country. For the pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (pre-K to 12) community, school safety encompasses measures and systems ranging from mental health support, threat assessment and reporting, and fostering a positive school climate. Integrating these various components and elements of school safety helps school communities better address the range of threats and hazards they may face, while maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for students to thrive and grow.

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) has created an informational one-page document that includes key school safety elements and topics for schools to consider this year, including Bullying and Cyberbullying, Mental Health, Threat Assessment and Reporting, School Climate, Emergency Planning, Physical Security, and COVID-19.

BACK TO SCHOOL Resources for Schools and Districts (PDF)

For further information visit https://www.schoolsafety.gov/ or reach out to the Maine School Safety Center.

 

U.S. DOE WEBINAR: Back-to-School Safety for the K-12 Community

Please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on August 31 at 3:00 PM EDT for an informational webinar on back-to-school safety for the K-12 community.

During the session, leaders from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education will provide an overview of resources, programs, and guidance to support schools in safely re-opening as the 2021-2022 academic school year gets underway. The discussion will feature information on efforts including the Return to School Roadmap, the Lessons from the Field Webinar Series, and the Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative.

The webinar will close with a brief look at the additional resources offered through the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on school safety topics like school climate and mental health, physical security, and threat assessment and reporting, as well as a question and answer period for participants to engage directly with our speakers.

  • When: August 31, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00 PM EDT
  • Where: Adobe Connect (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
  • Who: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Resource Officers; Local Law Enforcement; Mental Health Practitioners and School Counselors; Parents
  • Registration: https://schoolsafetybacktoschoolwebinar.eventbrite.com/

We hope you can join us for this special event. If you have any questions, please contact the School Safety team at SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.

This webinar is part of the 2021 School Safety Webinar Series, a program hosted by the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse to address emerging risks and threats facing the K-12 school community. Held on a monthly basis, the webinar series covers a range of school safety topics, and provides information on the resources, tools, and best practices available to equip school leaders with a set of strategies in creating safer and more resilient school systems. Learn more about the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse at SchoolSafety.gov. 

 

Prepare for Fall 2021 Lead Testing in Schools

The Maine Legislature passed a law requiring all school drinking and cooking water fixtures be tested for lead. All schools will either need to work with their local water professional or use the provided training materials to identify water sampling locations, collect water samples, coordinate with the designated laboratory, report results, and follow up with plans/procedures/actions based on the sampling results. Schools should designate someone for this responsibility.

Samples can be ordered on October 1st, 2021. To begin preparing for your sampling, visit our website at www.medwp.com/schools.html to download instructions.

Communication is Key

Before you begin sampling for lead in your school’s drinking water, it’s recommended that you communicate your efforts to parents and guardians. Make it known that by collecting lead water samples, your school is working toward creating a healthier and safer learning environment for students.

Staying ahead with your messaging is proactive and builds trust.  Attached is a template your school can use to develop your messaging:

If you have specific questions about the program you can contact the Drinking Water Program at 207-287-2070. You can also visit Maine’s Childhood Lead Poisoning website, or by calling 866-292-3474.

Website of LGBTQ+ and Gender Expansive Resources now Available to Schools

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has launched a new section of its website devoted to improving school climate and support of LGBTQ+ students in Maine.

“Every student in Maine has an irrefutable right to feel safe, recognized and valued in their school,” said Commissioner of Education Pender Makin (she/her/hers). “The Maine Department of Education is deeply committed to providing schools and educators the resources they need to ensure that theirs is a safe and welcoming climate, and to validating the voices and experiences of our LGBTQ+ students and school community members.”

The coordination of the website and its resources is the result of a year-long effort and partnership between Maine DOE, OUT Maine, and GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders) to provide meaningful resources and information to schools to give them the tools to support not only their LGBTQ+ students but their families and school staff as well. The resources are part of an initiative across the Maine DOE to provide resources and supports to ensure schools are safe and equitable for all students.

Our Stance: The Maine Department of Education supports all LGBTQ+ identifying, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender queer and questioning students, families, and school staff.

“We are thrilled with and grateful for DOE’s strong statement of support for LGBTQ+ youth in Maine schools,” said Jeanne Dooley, Executive Director of OUT Maine. “The thoughtful collection of resources and specific guidance for school districts will be extremely helpful to schools that have been seeking DOE leadership on laws and best practices.”

The website includes data about Maine’s LGBTQ+ youth, the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) data, and other vital tools for Maine schools to ensure equity for LGBTQ+ identifying students. There are also additional resources specifically for students and parents.

The website of resources can be accessed here: LGBTQ+ and Gender Expansive Resources. Additional resources for supporting schools in reducing in-school violence and building positive school culture are:

  • SEL4ME: a free to use, comprehensive, CASEL aligned and trauma informed, PreK-12th grade Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum, and;
  • Maine School Safety Center (MSSC): contacts and resources to help develop a safe school infrastructure delivering high quality, up-to-date best practices, procedures, training, technical assistance, and support to Maine Schools.

Maine’s 3rd Annual Opioid Response Summit Highlights Maine DOE’s Commitment to SEL in Schools

Governor Janet T. Mills’ 3rd Annual Opioid Response Summit was on held on July 15th this year and reminded the public of the importance of social emotional learning and trauma informed approaches in Maine schools, highlighting the work of the Maine Department of Education’s development of SEL4ME, a social emotional learning (SEL) platform for Maine educators and learners.

The summit featured numerous speakers and keynote addresses including those of Dr. Larry McCullough and Mark Lefebvre from the Pine Tree Institute who led a seminar called, “Preventing Substance Use Disorders by Mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences.” This discussion showed the strong link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and opioid addiction.

Dr. McCullough highlighted the importance of positive childhood experiences to combat the correlation between ACEs and opioid addiction. Further explaining that positive childhood experiences can be created for at-risk youth through feeling a sense of belonging in high school, having nonparent adults as role models for students, and community traditions. The seminar dug into the essential parts of community support, including a key component as social emotional and trauma informed learning, which has been shown to strongly correlate with less youth involvement in drugs.

Representatives Gabe O’Brien and Nina Misra from the Maine Youth Action Network corroborated Dr. McCullough’s presentation with their own, entitled: “Promoting Health Equity and Prevention through Youth Engagement Best Practices.” O’Brien and Misra focused on community and environmental conditions. Community conditions Misra defined as, “conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age.” Educational environments in which social emotional learning occurs within the classroom were encouraged as a best practice. Misra and O’Brien described a classroom that utilizes SEL as, “creating a space where young people feel seen and heard.”

Social emotional learning has been a priority for the Maine Department of Education, championed through the SEL4ME curriculum. SEL4ME strives for students to learn, “skills for self-confidence, perseverance and academic success as well as [become] positive members in their communities.”

The Annual Opioid Response Summit confirmed the importance of Maine DOE’s commitment to SEL as a critical role in mitigating the crisis. Dr. Jessica Pollard, Director of the Maine Office of Behavioral Health stated at the summit that newly approved funds entering into the DOE for opioid crisis work (much of it heading towards SEL professional development and training) will mean “fewer Maine youth will ever start misusing substances.”

To watch the entirety of the Summit, please click here. For more information about the Maine DOE SEL4ME platform visit: www.maine.gov/doe/sel/sel4me or contact Kellie Bailey, Social Emotional Learning/ Restorative Practice Specialist at kellie.bailey@maine.gov

REGISTER NOW: School Resource Officer Summit 2021

The School Resource Officer summit will be taking place August 10th and and 11th at Windham High School from 9am to 4pm EST (both in person and virtual options available).

August 10th will feature a keynote address from the Restorative Justice Board titled “A Showcase of Options for Thinking about Restorative Justice and Community Impact.” August 11th will feature Lt. Carlos Camacho from the Nashua, New Hampshire Police Department.

The summit will also feature numerous breakout sessions:

• Racial & Implicit Bias; a History of Racism- Trooper Elgin Physic
• EOPs- Melissa Coden
• Social Emotional Learning- Bear Shea
• Behavioral Threat Assessment- Dr. Karen Barnes
• Adverse Childhood Experiences 101 & 102- Ruby Parker
• Trauma and Professional Resiliencey- Allegra Hirsch
• Effective Police Interactions with Youth /Mirror- Mirror Project

Light breakfast items will be available both days for in-person participants at 8:15 AM and lunch will be at 12 PM with vegetarian or protein choices.

Please register for both in person and virtual options. Virtual participants will be capped at 500 people. If you are attending virtually, this link will enable you to choose the breakout session you registered for.

Lessons from the Field Webinar Series – Returning to School: Strategies for Supporting Staff

The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to support educational settings in safely sustaining or returning to in-person instruction. The series features lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, institutions of higher education, early childhood education providers, and other places of educational instruction describing approaches to operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to join the next webinar, Returning to School: Strategies for Supporting Staff on Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 from 3:00pm to 4:15pm EST.

Please join us as we explore information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Education on supporting staff health and wellness as educators return to school this Fall. Following the federal agency updates, field-based practitioners will share strategies they have found effective to support staff wellness.

The speakers and panelists will include Christian Rhodes, Chief of Staff, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education; Jessica Cardichon, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Federal Policy, U.S. Department of Education; Jyotsna Blackwell, Public Health Advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sangeeta Parikshak, Behavioral Health Lead, Office of Head Start, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Kathy McHugh, panelist, Delran, NJ.

This event will reference the following resources, which we encourage you to access in advance of the webinar to inform participation:

National Association of School Psychologists: From the Return to School Special Series

American School Counselor Association (staff wellness is included in these documents)

National Association of State Boards of Education

National Education Association

Other resources from CDC

For your reference, slides for this presentation will be posted on the event webpage on the day of the event. This event will be recorded and posted to the event webpage a day after the webinar.

You must register to participate in this presentation.

Please contact NCSSLE if you have any questions. NCSSLE looks forward to sharing this information with you and hearing from you about the important work you are doing in your schools, communities, and states to meet the needs of your students and staff as they return to in-person learning.

WEBINAR: Strategies for Safely Returning to School: The Latest Federal Guidance

The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to support educational settings in safely sustaining or returning to in-person instruction. The series features the latest federal guidance, and lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, institutions of higher education, early childhood education providers, and other places of educational instruction describing approaches to operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to join the next webinar, Strategies for Safely Returning to School: The Latest Federal Guidance.

Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST

Please join us for this informative webinar featuring updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ED on preparing to return to school for the 2021-22 school year, including the latest on mitigation strategies, as we continue to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the federal agency updates, practitioner questions will be addressed by the CDC and ED staff to allow field personnel to better understand and ultimately operationalize guidance.

Speakers/Panelists

  • Christian Rhodes, Moderator, Chief of Staff, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
  • Neha Cramer: Lead, Schools Unit, Community Intervention and Critical Populations Task Force at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Jessica McKinney: Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD), U.S. Department of Education Related Documents

This event will reference the following resources, which we encourage you to access in advance of the webinar to inform participation:

For your reference, slides for this presentation will be posted on the event webpage on the day of the event.

Registration – You must register to participate in this presentation. Register Here!

Please contact NCSSLE if you have any questions. We look forward to sharing this information with you and hearing from you about the important work you are doing in your schools, communities, and states to meet the needs of your students and staff as they return to in-person learning.