The Surrey School District is committed to providing safe and caring environments in which all learners can achieve academic excellence, personal growth and responsible citizenship.

District policies and regulations, Section 9000 outlines Safe & Caring Schools policy in Policy 9410 ( PDF, 18 KB) and in Regulations 9410.1 ( PDF, 61 KB) and 9410.2 ( PDF, 58 KB) .

Responsibility for an effective discipline program is shared among many partners including the district, schools, students, parents/guardians, community groups, social agencies and the RCMP. The Surrey School District promotes understanding and acceptance of the interactive roles required to achieve safe and caring schools.

The following are a few of the unique and relevant programs and initiatives developed by the award winning Surrey School District Safe Schools administrative team :

PROGRAM	SUMMARY	DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Protecting Surrey Schools Together (PSST) www.psst-bc.ca	Website promoting safety to students	PSST is a unique, innovative website designed by Surrey School District in partnership with the Surrey RCMP and sponsored by the BC Lions. The primary goal is to encourage students to get personally involved in ensuring the safety and security of their school. The site was designed for students who want to discuss school safety issues but want to remain anonymous. It is the first website of its kind in Canada and is a great resource for young people who now spend a lot of time on the computer or internet. It includes an on-line “REPORT IT” tip box which allows students to confidentially report dangerous or illegal activity such as bullying, vandalism, drugs or other issues happening at their schools or in their community. View the news release District relaunches student tip website on Anti-Bullying Day
WRAPAROUND SURREY (WRAP)	Support project for youth at risk of gang activity	A comprehensive and collaborative youth support project for 11 to 17-year-old Surrey school district students who are exhibiting risk factors associated with, or are engaged in, gang activity. The program extends into most facets of the young person’s life; personal, family, school, peer and community - thus “wrapping” the student with a network of support and encouragement. The Wraparound Surrey Team consists of Surrey School District staff trained in youth intervention strategies and three full-time police officers from both the BC Integrated Gang Task Force and Surrey RCMP, who lead general youth gang education, prevention and training initiatives for students, school staff, parents and the community. View the news release Surrey school district leads community partners in “wrap around” approach to teen gang prevention
BRIDGES	Pilot project supporting transition from elementary to secondary school	A pilot project funded by Health Canada running at two Surrey high schools starting Sept. 2009, focused on reducing the anxiety associated with the transition from elementary to secondary school via a peer mentoring program. Pre-screened and trained high school students are assigned to groups of Grade 7 students with an objective to reduce negative perceptions of secondary school, and improve self-confidence and awareness of the healthy alternatives to risky behaviour. Mentors gain leadership experience and acquire valuable reference benefits for resume and post secondary opportunities.
FIRST STEP	Students facilitate parent evenings about violence	First Step is a unique school-based program, aimed at enhancing communications between parents, children and their community around issues related to guns, gangs and violence. This student-led project provides opportunities for youth to present to and engage with their parents about these issues, while developing a range of skills that build resilience to gang recruitment and connectedness to school and family. First Step involves students in facilitating parent evenings about violence issues using interactive one-on-one strategies. With the assistance of Surrey School District staff, along with the development of a comprehensive training manual, students are provided with the training that they need to effectively engage their parents in discussions about gangs, guns and violence. In the works is a DVD designed to help school communities plan such training and events. First Step supports the goals of the Health and Career personal planning objectives and is targeted to youth in Grades 7 & 8, an age when it is particularly important to provide opportunities for young people to engage in communication with their families around societal issues. Parents are powerful figures in influencing the behaviour of young people and a parent education component in school violence prevention programs can be an important contribution in reducing the violent incidents involving young people.
iR3 : Intervention, Rethink, Refocus, Reintegrate	Alternative to suspension program	An Alternative to Suspension Program developed by the Surrey School District that was launched in April 2007 in pilot schools. iR3 is an option for school administration for students from grades 6-8 who have been temporarily suspended from school, that will provide them with the tools necessary to increase their personal growth, leadership abilities, motivation and self-worth. This unique, innovative 2-day strategy to the traditional at-home suspension offers at-risk youth various preventative workshops presented by district SUL staff including conflict resolution, character building, violence prevention (bullying, gangs), internet safety and substance use prevention. The goal is to successfully reintegrate students back into their schools better connected to their school and community than when they left.

Last Updated: July 24, 2009

contact Safe Schools