SAN JOSE, CA –The third week of October is designated to honor safety in our schools, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) staff will join schools throughout California and across the nation to educate, participate, and help spread safety awareness.
From October 15 to 21, schools across the country will observe
America's Safe Schools Week, which focuses on keeping campuses free of crime and violence. To coincide with this week,
Safe & Healthy Schools are partnering with Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services to host an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, on October 16 to 17, a two-day
workshop to help identify and support people with thoughts of suicide.
National School Bus Safety Week runs from October 16 to 20, and schools are focusing on this year's safety theme "#StopOnRed!" Schools are reminding drivers, when the school bus flashes red lights, drivers must stop from either direction until the children are safe across the street and the lights stop flashing.
Joni Sanborn, Transportation Supervisor at the SCCOE, offers this advice for drivers who share the road with school buses, "Everyone can see that traffic in the Bay Area has become atrocious, but patience and cooperation can go a long way; as bus drivers, our main focus is always the safety of our kids."
On October 19 at 10:19 a.m., more than 35 million people throughout the nation and in several countries around the globe are expected to participate in
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. During the drills, participants practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On," the recommended safety procedure to take during an earthquake. There are 109 K-12 schools and districts
registered for the
2017 California ShakeOut in Santa Clara County, with a total of 205,972 participants.
The SCCOE Department of Risk Management will host an earthquake drill for staff and students. During the self-led drill, participants will practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" or "Lock, Cover, and Hold On."
The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate
www.shakeout.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.
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The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional and business services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The SCCOE serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The Office also provides curriculum support, staff development, and technology support and training directly to teachers and staff in schools countywide.