What behaviours initiate a student threat assessment?
A student threat assessment will be initiated when behaviours include, but are not limited to, serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill, verbal/written threats to harm/kill others, Internet/electronic device threats to harm/kill others, possession of weapons (including replicas), bomb threats and fire setting.
Duty to report
To keep school communities safe and caring, staff, parents, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviour to the principal and/or the appropriate authority such as police. Threats will be taken seriously investigated and responded to.
What is a threat?
A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, electronic or made by gesture. Threats must be taken seriously, investigated and responded to.
What is a Violence Threat / Risk Assessment?
When the situations above become known, a multi-disciplinary Violence Threat/Risk Assessment will be conducted. Typically, this will include principal, vice-principal, counsellor, safe school coordinator and police. Sometimes this includes other professional such as Child and Youth Mental Health, the Ministry for Children and Family Development, or others.
What is the purpose of a student threat assessment?
The purposes of a student threat assessment are:
- To ensure the safety of students, staff, parents and others.
- To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat.
- To understand factors contributing to the threat makers’ behaviour.
- To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the threat maker.
- To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.
What happens in a student threat assessment?
All threat making behaviour by a student shall be reported to the Principal who will activate the protocol for the initial response. Once the team has been activated, interviews may be held with the student(s), the threat maker, parents and staff to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident.
Intervention plans will be developed and shared with parents, staff and students as required.
Can I refuse to participate in a threat assessment process?
It is important for all parties to engage in the process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the threat maker or parent / guardian, the threat assessment process will continue in order to promote a safe and caring learning environment.