Victoria Nava

Safety Week 2025: Building a Strong Culture of School Safety

October 20, 2025
Health & Safety

Safety Week 2025: Building a Strong Culture of School Safety

At IDEA Public Schools, Safety Week (October 20–24, 2025) is a time to reinforce our year-round commitment to school safety and emergency preparedness. Across all campuses, students and staff will practice drills, review safety procedures, and engage in activities that highlight the importance of school safety while strengthening the proactive habits that keep our learning environments secure.

What Safety Week Achieves

Each October, Safe Schools Week unites our schools in reinforcing preparedness and shared responsibility. Through drills, training, and family engagement, every member of our community builds confidence to prevent incidents and respond effectively during an emergency.

Over the years, IDEA has expanded Safe Schools Week from a single-day event into a comprehensive program that reflects best practices and goes beyond state guidance. Our 2025 goal is to continue strengthening preparedness through consistent practice, deepening understanding through hands-on learning, and building strong partnerships through open communication.

Safe Schools Week Initiatives

Throughout Safe Schools Week, campuses will conduct age-appropriate safety drills such as fire drills, evacuation drills, and shelter for severe weather drills. Students will also have an opportunity to create and sign safety pledges – which are personal commitments outlining how they will keep their school safe every day. Other activities include a Safety Poster Contest for college prep students and a “Kindness Chain for Safety” for academy students, both designed to promote teamwork, accountability, and empathy.

Staff members will have opportunities to complete or review updated trainings on emergency protocols and the core safety practices, which are daily habits that must be instilled in every staff member to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.

Campuses are encouraged to partner with local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services to host on-campus demonstrations and safety briefings for students and staff. For staff, these partnerships align directly with each campus’ Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and help refine procedures, streamline reunification plans, and strengthen real-time coordination with campus leaders.

For students, these experiences provide valuable opportunities to build trust with first responders, learn how emergency systems work, and understand their own role in maintaining safety both at school and in the community.

Putting Safety into Daily Practice

As we prepare for Safe Schools Week, IDEA campuses are focusing on clear, consistent procedures that strengthen our safety-first culture. Campuses are updating Emergency Action Plans as needed, while regional and national leaders continue to conduct regular campus safety walkthroughs to ensure strong procedures remain in place for arrival, dismissal, and visitor protocols.

All IDEA campuses are closed campuses, meaning all visitors enter through a single, secure point of entry. Campuses will reinforce secure entry points, maintain strong supervision in high-traffic areas, and ensure all students and staff consistently practice their core safety habits every day.

A safety-first culture depends on shared responsibility. Staff and students are encouraged to “See something, Say something,” – to speak up immediately if they observe or hear anything that could pose a threat to school safety. This includes reporting concerning messages, social media posts, rumors, or behaviors that could indicate a potential risk. Families also play a vital role by reinforcing this message at home and helping students understanding that reporting a concern is never “snitching”, it’s caring for one another’s safety.

Campus leaders are encouraged to open staff meetings with safety checks, celebrate staff members who demonstrate outstanding commitment to safety, and engage student groups in awareness activities throughout Safe Schools Week and beyond.

Through consistent training, strong partnerships, and open communication, IDEA continues to deliver dependable school safety families can trust, this Safety Week and every week. If you or your child encounters any message, rumor, or activity that raises school safety concerns, please report it immediately to: