NHA Schools Celebrate Safe Schools Week
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National Heritage Academies (NHA®) schools participated in Safe Schools Week Oct. 19-25. The week was full of activities and information for schools, students, staff, and their communities, practicing and learning about school safety. This year’s theme was “Everyone Counts in the Safety Equation.”
"Safety is always one of our top priorities at NHA, and we love to see all of our schools showing their commitment to a safe school environment,” said NHA’s Director of Safety and Health Brian Gard. “This year's theme, Everyone Counts in the Safety Equation, shows how everyone contributes to a safe school.”
Participation in Safe Schools Week is one of the elements required to earn a Safety Eagle Award. School safety specialists and their committees do a great job of offering a variety of safety activities, events, and materials.
“Thank you to the school safety specialists and their teams for putting in time and effort to create engaging activities for our students to participate in,” Gard said. “I am always amazed at the creativity our educators and school leaders have in creating safety programming. They turn simple safety concepts into something fun and engaging for students.”
Several schools are highlighted below for their efforts during Safe Schools Week.
The week was full of safety in action at Buffalo United Charter School. Students got to see a fire truck and learn how they operate. Local and federal law enforcement officials also spoke with students about keeping their community safe. Health professionals also visited the school to share health safety tips.
Students at East Arbor Charter Academy met with local emergency personnel, learning about what to do when there’s an emergency, how to deal with strangers, and other important safety tips. Kindergarten and first-grade students also learned about firefighters and fire trucks.
Staff members at Forsyth Academy created a video sharing Go Time best practices with families, ensuring everyone is safe when picking up and dropping off students. The school’s staff also created a safety mascot, Felipe Safety Fellow, to connect the messaging of Safe Schools Week with students and an engaging character.
Local law enforcement and emergency personnel visited Foundations Academy, reading to students. Firefighters even put on a skit for first- and second-grade scholars. The school’s Student Council and National Junior Honor Society organized a safety spirit week, with Stoplight Color Day and First Responder Appreciation Day, where students wore red, black, and blue.
Gate City Charter Academy had a special theme for each day of their Safe Schools Week celebration. The school tied each topic to a popular children’s educational television show: The Magic School Bus. Scholars learned about fire safety, health and hygiene, and weather safety with matching spirit days. Keeping safety engaging for students makes for impactful lessons and lasting memories.
To match this year’s theme, Grand River Academy honored those who are “Part of the Equation,” the school’s own theme for a bulletin board honoring emergency personnel, first responders, and health professionals in its community.
Scholars at Linden Charter Academy wrote thank you cards to health care professionals and first responders. Students also competed in an art contest based on this year’s Safe Schools Week there: “Everyone Counts in the Safety Equation.” Linden also provided students with information about resources such as OK2SAY, Michigan’s anonymous tip line.
Mill Creek Academy and Westfield Preparatory High School students and staff signed their names to a safety pledge on a large banner in each of the school’s main hallways. With everyone showing their dedication to keeping school secure, both schools are allowing classrooms to remain focused on learning.
Scholars at Paragon Charter Academy met with local firefighters, who gave an informative and fun presentation to scholars. Connecting with community partners helps show students what makes for a safe school and neighborhood.
At the Pathway School of Discovery, scholars competed in the Safety Olympics. Each homeroom class earned points for displaying safety in school, correctly answering safety trivia questions, and winning a safety poster contest. The class with the most points at the end of Safe Schools Week earns a class party and the right to keep the Safety Bobcat plush toy in their classroom all year long.
Students at Pembroke Academy celebrated Safe Schools Week with a variety of activities and learning opportunities. Students and staff came together to create a school unity chain, showing their commitment to safety together as a school community. Pembroke also organized a presentation on the dangers of vaping, visits with the local fire and police departments, and held a safety spirit day where students wore yellow and orange.
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find a charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.
"Safety is always one of our top priorities at NHA, and we love to see all of our schools showing their commitment to a safe school environment,” said NHA’s Director of Safety and Health Brian Gard. “This year's theme, Everyone Counts in the Safety Equation, shows how everyone contributes to a safe school.”
Participation in Safe Schools Week is one of the elements required to earn a Safety Eagle Award. School safety specialists and their committees do a great job of offering a variety of safety activities, events, and materials.
“Thank you to the school safety specialists and their teams for putting in time and effort to create engaging activities for our students to participate in,” Gard said. “I am always amazed at the creativity our educators and school leaders have in creating safety programming. They turn simple safety concepts into something fun and engaging for students.”
Several schools are highlighted below for their efforts during Safe Schools Week.
Buffalo United Charter School
The week was full of safety in action at Buffalo United Charter School. Students got to see a fire truck and learn how they operate. Local and federal law enforcement officials also spoke with students about keeping their community safe. Health professionals also visited the school to share health safety tips.
East Arbor Charter Academy
Students at East Arbor Charter Academy met with local emergency personnel, learning about what to do when there’s an emergency, how to deal with strangers, and other important safety tips. Kindergarten and first-grade students also learned about firefighters and fire trucks.
Forsyth Academy
Staff members at Forsyth Academy created a video sharing Go Time best practices with families, ensuring everyone is safe when picking up and dropping off students. The school’s staff also created a safety mascot, Felipe Safety Fellow, to connect the messaging of Safe Schools Week with students and an engaging character.
Foundations Academy
Local law enforcement and emergency personnel visited Foundations Academy, reading to students. Firefighters even put on a skit for first- and second-grade scholars. The school’s Student Council and National Junior Honor Society organized a safety spirit week, with Stoplight Color Day and First Responder Appreciation Day, where students wore red, black, and blue.
Gate City Charter Academy
Gate City Charter Academy had a special theme for each day of their Safe Schools Week celebration. The school tied each topic to a popular children’s educational television show: The Magic School Bus. Scholars learned about fire safety, health and hygiene, and weather safety with matching spirit days. Keeping safety engaging for students makes for impactful lessons and lasting memories.
Grand River Academy
To match this year’s theme, Grand River Academy honored those who are “Part of the Equation,” the school’s own theme for a bulletin board honoring emergency personnel, first responders, and health professionals in its community.
Linden Charter Academy
Scholars at Linden Charter Academy wrote thank you cards to health care professionals and first responders. Students also competed in an art contest based on this year’s Safe Schools Week there: “Everyone Counts in the Safety Equation.” Linden also provided students with information about resources such as OK2SAY, Michigan’s anonymous tip line.
Mill Creek Academy and Westfield Preparatory High School
Mill Creek Academy and Westfield Preparatory High School students and staff signed their names to a safety pledge on a large banner in each of the school’s main hallways. With everyone showing their dedication to keeping school secure, both schools are allowing classrooms to remain focused on learning.
Paragon Charter Academy
Scholars at Paragon Charter Academy met with local firefighters, who gave an informative and fun presentation to scholars. Connecting with community partners helps show students what makes for a safe school and neighborhood.
Pathway School of Discovery
At the Pathway School of Discovery, scholars competed in the Safety Olympics. Each homeroom class earned points for displaying safety in school, correctly answering safety trivia questions, and winning a safety poster contest. The class with the most points at the end of Safe Schools Week earns a class party and the right to keep the Safety Bobcat plush toy in their classroom all year long.
Pembroke Academy
Students at Pembroke Academy celebrated Safe Schools Week with a variety of activities and learning opportunities. Students and staff came together to create a school unity chain, showing their commitment to safety together as a school community. Pembroke also organized a presentation on the dangers of vaping, visits with the local fire and police departments, and held a safety spirit day where students wore yellow and orange.
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find a charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.