1. How does the safety plan address the needs of the school and students within that school?
The TOHS Comprehensive Safe School Plan addresses all areas of safety both for the students individually and for the school itself. The plan includes the Student/Parent Handbooks which help students and their parents know how they can be successful at our schools. Within these handbooks are the school rules and behavior contracts signed by students, parents and administration.
Also included in the plan are the emergency procedures which are practiced regularly and the procedures which staff follow when reporting child abuse and harassment. In addition, the plan includes statistical information regarding school-related crime, the California Healthy Kids Survey, drop-outs, and SARB.
2. How did the planning committee consider the “three essential components” when writing the plan, assuring each student a safe physical environment; an emotionally nurturing environment; and providing each student resiliency skills?
The plan primarily addresses the safe physical environment at the site, as cited in question one. It does address our Counseling, Student Services and Orientation programs, which fall into the “emotionally nurturing environment.” However, the very nature of the schools is emotionally nurturing and provides resiliency skills.
Our school is small, allowing for individual attention for all students. We work with students one-on-one and in small groups, giving them immediate, positive feedback. Every one of our staff members knows that along with the academic skills and knowledge we give to students, we also give guidance and direction. We help students with goal-setting and planning for their futures. Teachers, administrators, and classified staff, as well as college students, serve as mentors to our students, and safe schools funding provides a part time counseling intern.
We provide career training in our Careers class, Woodworking, Auto Maintenance, Electronics, and Work Experience Education.
We have instituted a comprehensive school success and safety program called Orientation, all incoming students participate in the training for four weeks, three hours per day.
Weekly and by Tri-mester we recognize students for academics, effort, attendance, and improvement at our awards assemblies. The Lusardi Construction Company, our partners in education, assist us in providing tangible rewards for students who are making progress.
Our students have an opportunity to succeed in high school because of the outstanding alternative setting of Twin Oaks High School.
