Resources help parents talk with their children, promote safety

The Five Star community shares in the grief over Jessica Ridgeway’s death. News of this nature is upsetting to the entire community, and adults often ask how they can best support their children. You can find tips from the National Association of School Psychologists by clicking here.

Safety Tips for Parents to Share with Children

1. If an adult approaches your child for help or directions, remember grownups needing help should not ask children; they should ask other adults.
2. Do not go out alone. Always take a friend when going places or playing outside.
3. Say no if someone tries to touch you, or treats you in a way that makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
4. Tell a parent, guardian, or trusted adult if you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
5. There will always be someone to help you, and you have the right to be safe.

Parents should choose opportunities or teachable moments to reinforce safety skills. If your child asks about recent events, speak frankly but with reassurance. Explain to your children you want to discuss the safety rules with them, so they will know what to do if they are ever confronted with a difficult situation. Make sure you have “safety nets” in place so your children know there is always someone who can help them.

For more information and resources for keeping your children safe, log onto the website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com. Just click on the option for “Resources for Parents and Guardians” to learn more.

Additional Safety Resources:

• Stranger Awareness
• Stranger Awareness (Spanish)
• Rules for Safety (English and Spanish)
• Going To and From School More Safely
• Going To and From School More Safely (Spanish)

Anonymously Report Safety Concerns
Safe2Tell® provides a safe, easy way to report information about anything that is a concern to school or community safety. To anonymously report a safety concern please call 1-877-542-SAFE (1-877-542-7233) or go online to www.safe2tell.org.

Both state law and the procedures established by Safe2Tell® guarantee the anonymity of every caller. Calls are answered at a Colorado State Patrol communication center. When action is needed, information is immediately forwarded to local school officials and law enforcement agencies, as appropriate. Safe2Tell® then goes the extra step by following up with the school and law enforcement agencies which received the report to ensure that it was investigated, that action was taken and that the outcome was tracked.

Keep Your Contact Information Updated
It is extremely important that parents and guardians keep all of their contact information current. If your contact information changes during the school year please notify your child’s school as soon as possible so your contact information can be updated. If contact information is not current we won’t be able to reach you when it is most important.

Parents can also update their email addresses and phone numbers on their own through Campus Portal, the district’s student information system.

Call in Student Absences Promptly
Parents and guardians can help school staff account for a child’s whereabouts by promptly calling in sick or absent children to their school. This will help reduce the number of calls our schools need to make in accounting for students who don’t show up to class and the parent or guardian has not called them in.

Fostering a safe and secure environment is truly a partnership between staff, parents, students and the community. We value the priority our community puts on safety and thank you for partnering with us to focus on student safety.