Garfield, Harding Take Sandy Hook Promise

LAKEWOOD, OH — Students at Garfield and Harding Middle Schools are now part of the Sandy Hook Promise community. In the wake of threats at Harding and Lakewood High last month, our middle school administrators asked the organization born out of the 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School to come visit and educate our middle schoolers on how to help prevent violence in their school community and drive home themes of empowerment and inclusion.

Sandy Hook Promise’s message is that every act of violence is preventable and that every student has the ability to save lives. The organization’s “Say Something” program teaches students the three simple steps to help reach the goal of reducing violence, suicide attempts and threats among teens.

The three steps include:

1. Look for warning signs, signals;
2. Act immediately and take it seriously; and
3. Say something to a trusted adult.

Sandy Hook presenter Andre Elliott shared that most threats of violence are known to at least one other person before it happens. For teens in particular, social media is often the vehicle by which the warning comes. Elliott shared a number of different scenarios in which students might pick up subtle warnings from a troubled teen such as mood swings, excessive anger, a change in appearance and a fascination with violence.
At a later time, Sandy Hook Promise will share its “Start With Hello” program with our middle school students. The “Start With Hello” message reinforces how important inclusion and compassion is in creating a safe school environment.

Administrators and staff members will sustain the messages of the “Say Something” and “Start With Hello” with presentations during lunch periods throughout the school year.

Sandy Hook Promise is a national non-profit organization aims to honor all victims of gun violence by turning the Sandy Hook tragedy into a moment of transformation by providing programs and practices that protect children and prevent the senseless violence.

For more information visit www.sandyhookpromise.org.

Written by Christine Gordillo

Photo: Lakewood City Schools