The Orchard Park Central School District, along with Erie 2 BOCES, has joined with Sandy Hook Promise to deploy an anonymous reporting system as an additional layer to our school district safety plan.  Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its life-saving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others.  SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) program is designed to provide students with an anonymous reporting system as each year in schools and communities across the United States, there are millions of youth who hurt themselves or others through verbal, physical and digital means. These behaviors can cause youth to experience emotional trauma and physical injury, mental health or wellness issues, stress or anxiety, and/or feelings of being unsafe. Too often the outcome results in self-harm, suicide, and homicide.

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and Say Something, using the anonymous reporting system, before it is too late.   

We are excited to be able to offer our community this additional layer of support as we work to ensure all of our students are safe and welcomed in our school community.