Safety

VIRTUS® Protecting God's Children Adult Awareness Session is a three-hour training that helps clergy, staff, volunteers and parents to understand the facts and myths about child sexual abuse; how perpetrators operate; and how caring adults can take five important steps to keep children safe. The parent session also stresses monitoring of computers, cell phones, and other technology that perpetrators use to gain access to children and young people.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles mandates this training for all adults working with children. This education component helps prevent child sexual abuse by first making every adult employee and volunteer aware of the issues surrounding child sexual abuse. This includes awareness of the many ways sexual abuse harms its victims, their families, the parish, and the community. The awareness session also helps adults learn to recognize the warning signs of abuse and shows them the appropriate way to respond to suspicious behavior. Finally, the awareness session empowers each person with five steps to help prevent child sexual abuse.

More than 50,000 priests, deacons, parish and school staff members and volunteers have already participated in these sessions throughout the five Pastoral Regions of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Our goal is to provide this training to all adults who work with children so we can work together as a more effective community to prevent child sexual abuse.

To view the online VIRTUS® program please double click here https://www.virtusonline.org/educators/TeachingTouchingSafety.pdf

Emergency Lock down procedure

In case of an emergency that could cause bodily harm to your child or anyone else on campus, we will go into LOCK-DOWN. LOCK-DOWN will be signaled by three short rings. Students who are out of the classroom will immediately return to the classroom. Teachers will lock doors and the doors will remain locked until the ALL-CLEAR (one long ring) is signaled.

Office staff will lock all gates into and out of the parking lots. Gates will remain locked until the ALL-CLEAR has been signaled.

All parents, guardians, adults and other children not in class will be required to come to the Kennedy Center for their safety. NO CHILD WILL BE RELEASED UNTIL THE ALL-CLEAR HAS BEEN SIGNALED.

After the situation has been cleared, the office will contact the classrooms by phone or will make a room-to-room check.

Discipline-ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

Disruptive behavior from the students will not be tolerated. In fairness to everyone concerned, a student who is disruptive, after one warning will be referred to the office. The second incident in which the student is sent to the office, will result in a conference between the parents, student and the coordinator or director. This conference will be to determine the cause of the problem, possible solutions and the appropriate action to take. this third incident will likely result in the student being placed on home study or being removed from the program.

Damage to Property and Facilities

Each student is responsible for taking care of the facilities, the equipment and the supplies that are provided. (This includes the desk and the items inside.) If damage or theft occurs, parents will be required to pay for repairs or replacement according to the "Parent/O.R.E. Contract"
 

Gangs

The very nature of a gang, with its commitment to violence, pre or extra-marital behavior, drug and alcohol abuse and other immoral behavior is totally conflicting with the teachings of Jesus Christ and Church. If a student displays gang behavior, paraphernalia, clothing, etc.. Parents will be contacted to have the student and themselves meet with the DRE to ascertain if the student is affiliated with the gang. If so, the student will be suspended and referred to the appropriate organization for assistance with this problem.
 

Adult Supervision

We know how precious each and every life is we ask you to please hold your child's hand while crossing the parking lot. It is important for you and your child's safety that you follow the instructions of our parent volunteers. We appreciate your cooperation.