Dear APS Teammates,

April 20th is the ninth anniversary of the tragic school shooting at Columbine High School. With that in mind and after reviewing the school climate surveys, I am reminded that we must be diligent in our efforts to keep our schools safe. While most of what is discussed below applies to our school buildings, it is important for all employees to be aware that safety and security are the responsibility of all our APS family members.

We’ve learned many lessons about school safety since 1999, and we know that a safe learning environment is essential if students are to succeed. I’d appreciate if you take a few minutes to talk with students and your colleagues about what is needed to ensure that every student and employee in the Aurora Public Schools feel safe and valued.

Here are a few points on what you may do to encourage safe behavior:

• Provide generous praise for pro-social and helpful student behavior. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a great resource for students and staff.
• Urge students or employees to report any bullying incidents to school staff members. They can also confidentially report concerns using Safe 2 Tell at www.safe2tell.org or by calling 1-877-542- SAFE (1-877-542-7233) or APS SafeNet at http://www.aps.k12.co.us/safenet/form.htm.
• Keep an extra eye out for students during recess, lunch hours and at the end of the school day.
• Share concerns that you may have with other staff in your school if you believe a student is exhibiting bullying or other unsafe behaviors.
• Ensure that there are consistent and immediate consequences for aggressive behavior.
• Remind students that APS has a zero tolerance policy for unsafe behavior, including bullying, intimidation and bringing any type of weapon-even toys-to our schools.

Below are a few reminders of actions that may constitute bullying. To view the APS bullying policy, visit http://www.aps.k12.co.us/pol-reg/SectionJ/jbc.PDF.

It is important for us to partner with each other and with students and parents to keep our schools safe so that every student can learn in a safe, welcome and comfortable environment.

Examples of acts that may constitute bullying include:

• communications in any media (e.g., letters, notes, voice mail, text messages, pager messages, newspaper articles, invitations, posters, photos, cartoons, web pages, my space and online videos);
• derogatory verbal comments (e.g., name-calling, taunting, hostile teasing, spreading rumors, epithets, jokes, or slurs);
• threats of force or violence against a person’s body, possessions or residence (e.g., obtaining food or money by threats of force); or
• physical conduct (e.g., provocative gestures, overly rough horseplay)

Thanks for your attention to this matter.

John L. Barry, Superintendent
Aurora Public Schools
15701 E. First Ave., Suite 206
Aurora, CO 80011
303-365-7800

“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”

John F. Kennedy