Safety

Pinellas County Schools starts May with a renewed commitment to student well-being through its “Safety Starts with Me” campaign, emphasizing the importance of water safety and mental health awareness. As temperatures rise and summer approaches, water safety becomes a critical focus. The district is sharing information to educate students and families about drowning prevention, safe swimming practices, and the importance of supervision around water. Age-appropriate lessons and resources can be found at your local YMCAs (Suncoast and St. Petersburg), community centers, and municipal recreation centers. 

Equally vital is the district’s spotlight on mental health. Pinellas County Schools has mental health resources, including access to school counselors and family support guides. A first step is taking care of yourself. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has a Mindful Moments Checklist to assist in your self-care. 

“Safety Starts with Me” reflects the district’s ongoing mission to provide a safe, supportive, and informed environment for every student, every day.

Pinellas County Schools' "Safety Starts with Me" campaign highlights the importance of safe driving practices, especially during Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. The campaign encourages students and families to stay focused behind the wheel—whether navigating car lines, heading to prom, or any time they're on the road. By promoting responsible driving, the initiative aims to reduce distractions and ensure the safety of all individuals on the road. The campaign empowers everyone to take responsibility for their actions and prioritize safety, both in and out of the car.

Spring Break Reminder: Stay Safe Online!

As you enjoy your Spring Break, it’s important to keep online safety in mind. Whether you're using educational apps, browsing social media, or shopping, remember that companies collect a lot of your information. Pinellas County Schools’ Digital Responsibility and Safety Starts with Me campaign encourages families to be mindful of their digital footprint. Here are some helpful online safety tips to keep you and your kids protected: 

Online Safety Tips for Kids:

• #1 TIP is to create strong usernames and passwords. Avoid using personal information and choose safe, neutral names.
• Use strict privacy settings. Opt out of location tracking and other unnecessary data collection whenever possible.
• Be cautious with personal info. Teach kids to keep private details, like phone numbers and addresses, safe.
• Check for secure websites. Make sure the URL starts with "https" for a secure connection.
• Test password recovery. Ensure the site’s recovery process works—trusted sites will ask you to reset your password, not just provide the original one.
• Review sharing settings. Keep posts private by adjusting privacy settings on social platforms.
• Provide only necessary information. When creating accounts, share only what’s required—no extras!
• Be careful with downloads. Avoid risky files and make sure you have antivirus software to keep devices protected.

Stay safe and enjoy your break, both online and offline!

The Pinellas County School District's Safety Starts with Me campaign is sharing information about Severe Weather Awareness Week. 

Along with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, this is a reminder that safety starts with each of us. This week (February 3-7), we remind our communities to prepare for the unexpected—whether it's severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, or our recent cold weather. Florida’s weather can change quickly, and knowing what to do in the event of a weather emergency could make all the difference.

This week, take a moment to review your family’s emergency plan. Discuss where you’ll go during a storm, how to stay informed, and what supplies you’ll need. Practice these steps together so everyone feels confident and ready if the weather turns severe.

Remember, you can stay ahead of the storm by checking weather updates, listening for emergency alerts, and following your school’s safety procedures. When we all stay informed and prepared, we keep each other safe.

Let’s make safety a priority—together!

The Pinellas County School District’s Safety awareness campaign is sharing information about human trafficking - the signs and how traffickers operate. Empowering students to recognize risks and protect themselves and empowering staff to spot and report suspicious activities. 

 Empowering students to recognize risks and protect themselves and empowering staff to spot and report suspicious activities. 

The district collaborates with local law enforcement, offering victim support and community outreach. Pinellas Schools also provides confidential reporting systems, allowing students, staff, and the community to report concerns without fear of retaliation. 

The See Something, Say Something app plays a key role in community involvement. It lets individuals report suspicious behavior, such as unusual interactions or signs of abuse, directly to authorities. The app allows for anonymous reporting, and users can submit detailed descriptions, aiding investigations. 

Community members can further help by participating in and sharing the awareness campaigns and by utilizing these tools. Pinellas County Schools and the community can work together to create a safer environment. 

Online Safety

Here's a holiday reminder that it's important to know the basics of online safety. Whether using educational apps, social media or shopping for the holiday season, a lot of information is collected by companies. Pinellas County Schools Digital Responsibility and Safety Starts with Me campaign includes a reminder to help your children (and families) be mindful of their digital lives by sharing some guidelines to be safe online. 

Here are some online safety tips for kids:

1. Create strong usernames and passwords. Avoid personal details, and choose inoffensive names.
2. Use strict privacy settings. Opt out of location sharing and other data collection when possible.
3. Be cautious with personal info. Help kids understand what data should remain private, like phone numbers or addresses.
4. Look for secure URLs. Ensure websites use "https" to indicate a secure connection.
5. Do a password check. Test the site's recovery process—safe sites ask for a new password link, not the original password.
6. Review sharing settings. Keep posts private by adjusting privacy settings.
7. Skip unnecessary details. Only provide the information that’s needed for account creation.
8. Be cautious with downloads. Avoid risky downloads and use antivirus software to protect devices.

Cyberbullying 

As we get ready for the holiday break it’s a good time to talk about Cyberbullying. 

 Unfortunately, cyberbullying is something many children/students may face during their time online. For some, it might be brief, but for others, it can leave lasting emotional scars.  

For parents, families and caregivers, it’s crucial to stay actively engaged in your child’s digital and offline activities. This involvement enables you to offer support and intervention when needed. By working together with us, we can help children navigate online challenges, avoid unnecessary conflicts, and stand up for one another in a positive way. 

As Halloween approaches, we want to ensure that everyone has a fun and safe celebration. Pinellas County Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for all students and staff. We appreciate the trust you place in us to keep our campuses and classrooms secure for learning. It's been two weeks since we returned to school after the storms, and we want to share some safe school transportation tips.  

For students walking or riding a bike to school, please wear clothing that is visible to drivers. For parents driving their children to school, please be mindful of traffic and be patient and alert while dropping off and picking up students in the car line. See more tips for students, bike riders, and parents. 

We'd also like to take this time to remind everyone that making a threat against a school, students, or staff is no joke. Each case is taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and met with consequences, which include possible expulsion and discipline outlined in the Student Code of Conduct or legal action, including arrest as determined by law enforcement.  

Law enforcement is aware of anonymous posts circulating nationwide on social media regarding possible threats to schools. Local law enforcement and school administrators are monitoring these posts and taking the appropriate action to keep our students and staff safe. If you or your student sees a threat on social media or witness any suspicious activity, please do not repost it. 
  
We ask that you report it to law enforcement, school administration or through the district’s  Say Something Anonymous Reporting App found on our school’s website. 
  
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We remind everyone that making a threat against a school, students, or staff is no joke. Each case is taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and met with consequences, including discipline according to the Student Code of Conduct or legal action, including arrest as determined by law enforcement.