School District 60: Peace River North and our schools are committed to creating and maintaining school environments in which students, staff, parents/guardians/caregivers, and others feel safe. Schools cannot ignore any threat of violence.

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, posted on the Internet, or made by gesture.

Duty to report
To keep school communities safe and caring, staff, parents/ guardians/caregivers, students, and community members must report all threat-related behaviours to the school principal.

What is the purpose of a student threat assessment? The purposes of a student threat assessment are:

• To ensure and promote the emotional and physical safety of students, staff, parents, the student making the threat, and others.
• To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat.
• To understand the factors contributing to the person of concern’s (threat-maker’s) behaviour.
• To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the person of concern.
• To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.

• What behaviours warrant a Student Threat Assessment to be initiated?
• A student threat assessment will be initiated for behaviours including, but not limited to:
• Serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill.
• Indicators of suicidal ideation as it relates to fluidity (both homicidal and suicidal).Suicide risk-assessment may be required.
• Verbal/written and direct threats to kill others (“clear, direct and plausible”).
• The use of technology or writings that suggest that the student has engaged in threat-related behaviours or has demonstrated unusual interest in other instances of mass casualty attacks.
• Possession of weapons (including replicas).
• Bomb threats (making and/or detonating explosive devices).
• Fire setting.
• Sexual intimidation, extortion, or assault.
• Ongoing issues with bullying behaviours and/or harassment.
• Gang-related intimidation and violence.
• Targeted hate incidents motivated by factors including, but not limited to, race, culture, religion, and/or sexual orientation.

Collection Notice

• The school district is subject to personal information privacy laws and will undertake the collection of this information in compliance with the requirements of such laws, including by limiting collection to information that is relevant and necessary to address a risk or threat and by ensuring that information is collected from publicly available open source social media sites. The School District will not collect information as part of a threat assessment unless there is reason to believe that a risk exists. Information collected as part of a threat assessment may be provided to law enforcement authorities in appropriate circumstances.

What Do Parents and Students Need to Know?

• Any threat must be reported to the school principal.
• Investigation may involve the student services counsellor, the police, or other community agencies.
• Investigation may involve locker or property searches.
• Interviews will be held with the person of concern and other students or adults who may have information about the threat.
• Parents of students who are directly involved will be notified.
• Threatening behaviour may result in disciplinary action.
• An intervention plan may be developed for the student making the threat, and a support plan may be developed for any individuals targeted by threats.