The Thames Valley District School Board is committed to ensuring that the school environment is safe and welcoming so effective teaching and learning can take place. Well-functioning schools have a strong academic focus and support students in achieving high standards. These schools foster positive relationships between staff and students, and promote meaningful parental and community involvement.

Effective prevention, intervention and crisis response plans operate best in schools that:

Discuss safety issues openly

All students need to understand that there are many different forms of violence and many factors which lead to violence. Schools need to provide opportunities for students where they can develop skills and strategies to deal with violence in a non-confrontational, non-violent way.

Focus on academic achievement

Effective schools convey the attitude that all children can excel in their courses and behave appropriately. Adequate resources and programs help ensure that expectations are met.

Involve families in meaningful ways

Students whose families are involved in their growth, both in and outside school, are more likely to experience school success and less likely to become involved with violence. Effective schools support families in expressing concerns about their children, and support families in getting the help they need to address questionable behaviours.

Emphasize positive relationships among students and staff

Effective schools provide opportunities for adults to spend quality personal time with children. These schools also foster positive student interpersonal relationships by encouraging students to help each other, and to feel comfortable assisting others getting help when needed.

Treat students with equal respect

Conflict exists in schools when there is a perceived or real problem of bias and unfair treatment of students because of ethnicity, gender, race, social class, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, physical appearance or some other factor. Effective schools communicate to parents and the community that all children deserve respect and are valued. There must be a deliberate and systematic effort to respect student diversity.

Create ways for students to share their concerns

Research indicates that peers are often the most likely group to know in advance about potential school violence. Therefore, mechanisms must be in place where students can safely report potential problems without fear of reprisal. Effective schools accomplish this by fostering positive relationships between students and staff, and by implementing safe reporting strategies.