SAVE Week

Student-led SAVE Clubs are Integral to School Safety

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Center for Safety Schools announced today that next week, September 20 - 24, 2021, will be SAVE Week at schools across the state. The intent of SAVE Week is to bring attention to school safety and Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Clubs, which are student-led organizations that encourage young people to take charge of keeping their friends, schools, and communities safe.

SAVE Clubs are established in schools across the nation, but originated in Charlotte, NC in 1989. Currently, there are over 530 SAVE Clubs in North Carolina, and more are in development. The clubs are an acknowledgement of the unique role that students can play in making their schools and communities safer. Students have information and insights that can be very helpful in addressing school safety issues.

Karen Fairley, Executive Director of the Center for Safer schools, states, “The Center’s role is to ensure that schools are safer, secure, and have environments conducive to learning. So, we are excited to participate in SAVE Week along with North Carolina’s teachers and students. Considering the recent events of school violence in North Carolina, raising awareness with students of the importance of school safety is critical.”

For SAVE Week, there will be daily social media posts from the Center for Safer Schools with information about school safety. Schools are encouraged to share these posts, create posts of their own, and let stakeholders know what they are doing in their schools and communities to ensure all students are safer, secure, and have an environment conducive to their growth and achievement.

Below are suggested activities that schools are encouraged to engage in to help promote student participation in SAVE Clubs.

Monday 9/20/2021 - What are SAVE Clubs?
Share information with students and staff about SAVE Clubs -  WATCH THE VIDEO

Tuesday 9/21/2021 - Start with Hello
Share information about the Start with Hello program. It teaches empathy and empowers students to help end social isolation, including:

• Learning how to recognize the signs of loneliness and social isolation.
• Finding out what you can do to help others feel included.
• Discovering how to break the ice and strike up a conversation.

Wednesday 9/22/2021 - Know the Signs
People who hurt themselves or others often show warning signs before they carry out an act of violence. If you don't know what to look for, it can be easy to miss the signs, or dismiss them as unimportant. We encourage students, school administrators, and community members to learn the 9 Critical Warning Signs of Violence to keep schools and communities safe.

VIDEO PSA

Thursday 9/23/2021 - Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is the only anonymous reporting system to provide a holistic solution to school violence prevention. Featuring educational program, easy-to-use reporting technology, ongoing curriculum, and sustainability support. We encourage all NC students who have the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System at their schools to download the app. 

VIDEO - HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE APP

Friday 9/24/2021 -Wear Your School Colors!
To commemorate SAVE Week, we encourage students and school staff to wear their respective school colors and think about how to improve school safety and keep a positive school climate EVERY DAY!

If you have questions about SAVE Week, please contact Carl Wilkins (Carl.Wilkins@dpi.nc.gov; 984-236-1040) or Mike Anderson (mike.anderson@dpi.nc.gov; 984.236.2242).