Student Safety

“In the 2011-2012 school year, we have established a problem-solving committee with students, parents, teachers, community members and administrators.  Our focus is to refine our procedures at WMS to maintain safety and security for all students, staff and community members.

Below is a copy of our agenda items for each meeting.  Please feel free to contact, Dr. Allison Klouse, at 314-953-7801, if you are interested in being a part of our discussion and solution driven outcomes.”

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Student safety is a priority for West Middle School and all schools throughout the district. Throughout the year our staff, along with the support of outside organizations, provide students with a multitude of programs to support and reinforce their good character and decision-making abilities.  Additionally, we provide opportunities for students to learn new information around technology use.  Below is a list of just some of the opportunities your student has throughout the school year.

1. Positive Behavior Intervention Supports-each Monday our staff teach weekly lessons around developing good character and their understanding of WMS and community expectations
    
2. Assemblies on Internet Safety, Bullying and Harassment-through administration and outside agencies we provide tools for students to use to be safe when using the internet and how to identify, address and report issues around bullying and harassment
    
3. Second Steps-our counselors teach lessons in the classroom throughout the school year and provide tools for students to use around the many issues they may face in their middle school careers (making friends, responsibility, organization, bullying, good decision making, etc)
    
4. Discipline Reviews-the administrative team meets with all students four times a year to remind students of the Board approved district policies in their Student-Parent Handbook and Behavior Guide that both parents and students should review throughout the school year
    
5. Mediations-all staff are available to support students in making good decisions around interactions with their peers.  We support students through mediations where students are able to express their feelings in an open forum with another student to resolve the conflict.  Together, students make an agreement on how they will move forward and maintain a safe environment. 
    
6. Ethics and the Internet-in the Fall, our librarian meets with students through their communication skills classrooms to discuss how to use the internet safely, while providing information to students about what the law states around issues with the internet.  Together, students and their parents are required to fill out an internet safety form before they are able to utilize the internet in our schools.  Additionally, our librarian provides parent information during conferences around internet safety.
    
7. Safety Committee-our building has maintained a crisis response team that meets periodically to review our current procedures around safety and security and to address the needs of our building.  In the 2011-2012 school  year, we have enlisted the support of both students and parents to support our efforts.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

In October, this company will perform a play about bullying at our middle school through your student’s communication skills teachers.  The Shakespearean performances (55 minutes) will focus on bullying in schools and there will be follow-up workshops with the actors. In August, our counselors had an opportunity to support Shakespeare Festival St. Louis and their efforts to prevent bullying by meeting with the author of the book, The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander and develop additional resources to support all students.  This is a wonderful opportunity that is being funded through the Safe Schools Grant.   

WMS performances 10/3, 1^st period and 3^rd period; 10/4, 2^nd hour; workshops 10/3-10/10