You have probably heard the phrase, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” In that light, we want to give some suggestions to you as parents on things you can do at home to help maintain a safe school environment here at LPHS.

• Recognize that keeping firearms in your home may put you at legal risk as well as expose you and your family to physical risk. In many states, parents can be held liable for their children’s actions, including inappropriate use of firearms. If you do choose to keep firearms at home, ensure that they are securely locked, that ammunition is locked and stored separately, and that children know weapons are never to be touched without your express permission and supervision.
• Be involved in your child’s school life by supporting and reviewing homework, talking with his or her teachers and attending school functions. Volunteer in the classroom or library or in after-school activities. Work with parent-teacher-student organizations, booster clubs, etc.
• Act as role models. Settle your own conflicts peaceably and manage anger without violence. Help your child understand the value of accepting individual differences.
• Listen to and talk with your children regularly. Find out what they’re thinking on all kinds of topics. Create an opportunity for two-way conversation, which may mean forgoing judgments or pronouncements. This kind of communication should be a daily habit, not a reaction to a crisis. Listen to your child if he or she shares concerns about friends who may be exhibiting troubling behaviors. Share this information with a trusted professional, such as the school psychologist, principal, or a teacher.
• Set clear limits on behavior in advance. Discuss punishments and rewards in advance, too. Disciplining with framework and consistency helps teach self-discipline, a skill your children can use for the rest of their lives.
• Communicate clearly on the violence issue. Explain that you don’t accept and won’t tolerate violent behavior. Discuss what violence is and is not. Talk with your child about the violence he or she sees on television, in video games, and possibly in the neighborhood. Help them to understand the consequences of violence. Answer questions thoughtfully. Listen to children’s ideas and concerns. They may bring up small problems that can easily be solved now, problems that could become worse if allowed to fester.
• Help your children learn how to examine and find solutions to problems. Kids who know how to approach a problem and resolve it effectively are less likely to be angry, frustrated, or violent. Take advantage of “teachable moments” to help your child understand and apply these and other skills.
• Discourage name-calling and teasing. These behaviors often escalate into fistfights (or worse). Whether the teaser is violent or not, the victim may see violence as the only way to stop it.
• Insist on knowing your child’s friends, whereabouts, and activities. It’s your right. Make your home an inviting and pleasant place for your children and their friends; it’s easier to know what they’re up to when they’re around. Know how to spot signs of troubling behavior in kids – yours and others.
• Work with other parents to develop standards for school-related events, acceptable out-of-school activities and places, and required adult supervision. Support each other in enforcing these standards.
• Make it clear that you support school policies and rules that help create and sustain a safe place for all students to learn. Show your support for the rules, and help your child understand the reasons for them.
• Join up with other parents, through school and neighborhood associations, religious organizations, civic groups, and youth activity groups. Talk with each other about violence problems, concerns about youth in the community, sources of help to strengthen and sharpen parenting skills, and similar issues.

Our students are doing great things at La Porte High School. They have impressed visitors to our campus time and time again with their behavior, their performances, their focus on their education, and their commitment to making LPHS and the community of La Porte a better place to live and work. Together we will continue to make La Porte High School the pride of all Texas.

Safety at school is something that is taken seriously here at La Porte High School. There are numerous strategies, policies and procedures in place that assist in keeping our campus a safe place to learn. However, a crucial component in deterring Schoolplace Violence relies on individuals seeing and reporting the warning signs of potential acts of violence. Staff is trained to recognize warning signs and possible indicators of students in crisis. As a student at La Porte High School, you too have an important part  in our safety. You can help by:

• Making a commitment to prevent violence from occurring on our campus; and
• Overcoming barriers that you might have that keep you from  reporting concerns.

Together we can keep LPHS a safe environment in which to learn and grow.

“Peer code of silence”

A major barrier to reporting concerns is the “peer code of silence”. Students often follow this unwritten, unspoken code in which it is understood that adults, parents, and teachers are the enemy, not to be trusted with information or secrets. When it comes to matters concerning life and death, yours or others, no code is worth keeping.

Common beliefs that are barriers to reporting

The following are some common notions found among students who failed to report concerns that later turned out to be real.

Belief #1: “I don’t want to get anybody in trouble.”

Students are sometimes uninformed about what happens after a report is made. You may view reporting another student as getting that person in trouble, instead of getting them some help. A student making threats, or otherwise showing signs of impending violence, needs help. Your instincts are accurate, and your concern is based on something real. Get them some help. The reality is, individuals making threats of violence are already in trouble.

Belief #2: “He might come after me.”

A part of the “peer code of silence” may revolve around the fear of retribution by the offending student. While revenge is a common motive for violence, there has not been a case of school violence where the target was a student who filed a report against them. You should know that very often, the student in crisis is really asking for help in a disguised manner. If you make a report, your confidentiality will be protected as much as is practical.

Belief #3: “So what if he’s violent, he won’t come after me.”

Denial is often used by people to ward off fears and anxieties, and this holds true for young people as well. You may think a friend in crisis would never harm or hurt you, but your friendship is no guarantee of safety. Schoolplace Violence is usually a random event. Anyone can be a Victim of Chance.

Belief #4: “I’m overreacting. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.”

We are sometimes afraid that others will perceive us as paranoid if we voice our concerns. Denial and mistrusting one’s instincts can play a major role in permitting violence to occur. You need to listen to your gut feelings, because your intuition about situations and people is often incredibly accurate.

Belief #5 “People just snap.”

Violence is always the result of a series of thoughts, behaviors, internal and external events. In all cases of Schoolplace Violence, the student in crisis made plans in advance and told friends and/or family of their plans.

Ten things students can do:

1. Refuse to bring weapons to school, refuse to carry a weapon for another, and refuse to keep silent about those who carry weapons.
2. Report any crime immediately to school authorities, police, or CrimeStoppers.
3. Report  suspicious or worrisome behavior or talk by other students to a teacher or counselor at your school. You may save someone’s life.
4. Learn how to manage your own anger effectively. Find out ways to settle arguments by talking it out, working it out, or walking away rather than fighting.
5. Help others settle disputes peaceably.
6. Become a peer counselor, working with classmates who need support and help with problems.
7. Mentor a younger student. As a role model and friend, you can make it easier for a younger person to adjust to school and ask for help.
8. Ask each student activity or club to adopt an anti-violence theme.
9. Welcome new students and help them feel at home in your school. Introduce them to other students. Get to know at least one student unfamiliar to you each week.
10. Start (or sign up for) a “peace pledge” campaign, in which students promise to settle disagreements without violence, to reject weapons, and to work toward a safe campus for all. Try for 100% participation.

Together we can maintain the friendly, safe environment we’ve all come to enjoy here at La Porte High School.

CrimeStoppers

281-470-STOP