Wellness Initiative

Ohio law now requires a Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis (TDap) booster and Menigitis Vaccine for entry into the 7th grade. Please try to get your child’s booster soon. To avoid being excluded from school, proof of the vaccines are required by September 15th. The Erie County Health Department has Outreach Clinics where the required vaccines may be obtained, or you can call your child’s doctor. The Health Department Outreach Clinics are listed on their website @ www.eriecohealthohio.org.

 
Keep yourself and others healthy by:

• Washing your hands often, especially before eating and after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom.
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
• Using good cough etiquette by coughing and sneezing into a tissue of your sleeve.

 
Safety Plans
All of our Catholic Schools K-12 have Safety Plans in place in order to respond to possible emergencies in an effective and expedient manner. All school safety plans are on file in the CYSS office. All schools are expected to inservice faculty and staff on what role they play in the unlikely event an emergency occurs. All schools in Toledo metro have submitted building blueprints which have been forwarded to local authorities(Police) to reduce response time. All of our schools are expected to have a relationship with their local Fire and Police departments and submit building blueprints to them.

Policy
We believe any use of substances for a student impedes their physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development. Therefore all of our Catholic schools have an alcohol, tobacco and other drug policy in place for all students and what consequences and help are in place if there is awareness of use, possession or distribution of chemicals either on school property or during a school related event. Most of our schools also have special policy in place for the student athlete regarding suspension from athletic contest or dismissal from the team.

We believe that safety is paramount to academic learning and other development and that all of our students have a right to feel safe in the school environment. This is also supported by the “Safe School Ordinance.” Therefore all of our schools have bullying and harassment policies which include help and consequences for both the victim and the offender.

All of our schools require that if a student is dangerous to him/herself or others that (s)he may be required to go to a professional assessment to determine their being fit to return to school. If an assessment is required each school decides on a student by student basis whether it is in the best interest of the student and the entire school if said student should return or not.

Educational Training
Educational training is offered each year for our Teachers and Principals on the best practices in addressing such topics as: alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, bullying behavior, harassment and classroom management techniques. These educational training include ways educators can prevent and intervene on unwanted high risk behaviors, as well as, promote and encourage asset behaviors in youth.

All Diocesan employees and volunteers working with students are mandated by the Bishops office to attend a two hour workshop titled: Protecting Youth and Those Who Serve Them. This workshop explore signs, symptoms and the etiology of physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. All Diocesan personnel become familiar with the Diocesan Policy, “Response To Child Abuse and Adult Sexual Misconduct.” All are made aware of our legal duty to report. The workshop also includes an “Expectations” brochure that includes guidelines and boundaries(Do’s and Don’ts) to ministering to youth.

Many schools provide student based trainings in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, bullying behavior,harassment and leading a chase life. Many schools have completed extensive training with students in Peer Mediation/Conflict Resolution. Our schools frequently bring in speakers with a variety of expertise to address many societal concerns in order to enhance the formation of the student.

Alternatives
We believe that if students are expected to not engage in high risk behaviors they must be given healthy or low risk ways of behaving. Many of our schools have “Positive Awareness/Alternative” weeks or days throughout the academic calendar year to promote ways of having fun that are safe and healthy. We believe that by doing this positive self- esteem will be promoted in our students and in the school environment.