It’s a good habit to start each school year with a mental checklist of things you should know about your campus: your mentee’s lunchtime, who to call if you can’t make a visit, how to check if your mentee is at school, etc. Now is also a great time to revisit some best practices for school safety, regardless of what campus you’re visiting or how long you’ve been matched.

Always check in at the front office! This is a requirement for student safety.  When checking in you will be given a sticker badge that shows you have been given clearance to be on campus. Never enter campus without checking in at the front desk office and receiving your badge.

If you see something concerning on campus, alert school staff. Kids will be kids, and impulse control is a skill that’s very much still developing during childhood. Occasionally you might encounter a student doing something that might put themselves or another student at risk. Rather than intervene yourself, seek out the nearest staff member to address the situation.

Have your mentee show you the location of the nurse’s office on your campus. This way, if you ever need to take them there in the future (or if you have any minor first aid needs yourself) you will know where to go.

You may find yourself on campus during a safety drill or actual safety event. In either scenario, you should follow the directions of school staff. Guidance will be provided and will vary depending on where you are located. Remain with your mentee until or unless directed otherwise. Students rehearse these drills regularly, know the protocols, and may very well do them instinctively. If you are concerned about knowing what to do ahead of time, you can always ask your School Contact if your campus has a hard copy of these safety plans available so you can familiarize yourself with them.

Build relationships with the school staff as you are able. It really does take a village. Robust relationships help ensure that everyone is being supported and people can feel comfortable asking for any help they may need, whether it’s you, your mentee, or any other student on campus.