Safeguard the Children
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Protecting Our Children
All clergy, paid parish/school personnel and volunteers who work regularly in a supervisory role with children or youth must be fingerprinted.
“Safeguard the Children” was established to create a safe environment for children, youth and vulnerable adults in the parish community. The LA Archdiocese Office of Safeguard the Children provides ongoing support, education, training and resources to help prevent child sexual abuse and to address children’s safety in our parishes, schools, homes and communities.
The LA Archdiocese Office of Safeguard the Children has mandated that all volunteers working with children must be Virtus trained. The Virtus certification is valid for four years, and at that time, a re-certification course must be completed. Valid certificates must be provided to the school office if parents would like to volunteer on campus or with any student-related activities.
The Virtus training program, entitled "Protecting God's Children® for Adults", is training conducted by VIRTUS® certified facilitators on the prevention of child sexual abuse. The training makes participants aware of the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and five easy steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse. Two videos are the centerpiece of the training: A Time to Protect God's Children™ and A Plan to Protect God's Children™. The facilitators incorporate policies and procedures into the training defining child sexual abuse, addressing the reporting of child sexual abuse, the screening and selection of employees and volunteers, and victim advocacy.For more information about course locations or information about the training program, visit www.virtusonline.org.
Empowering God's Children and Young People
The Empowering God’s Children and Young People© Safety Program is provided by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as an ongoing effort to educate children and young people through classroom lessons and activities on ways to maintain their own personal safety. It is based on catechetical principles to help them know they are loved by God and that He wants them to be healthy and safe.
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Links
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Child Security
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Campus Safety
Our Mother of Good Counsel is a closed campus. All individuals entering the school are to go to the office and obtain a visitor's pass. No one may be on the campus or in the building unless they have been authorized by the office.
Parents are not allowed to visit the classrooms for security reasons unless they have received a visitor's pass from the school office.
When leaving the building the visitor's pass must be returned to the office and the individual must sign out in the visitor's book.
In case of a natural disaster, a designated area will be assigned in which to pick your daughter/son up. All students must follow the school procedures in case of fire, lock down, or natural disaster. -
Field Trips
Every field trip has a specific goal related to the curriculum. When cars are used for transportation, a seat belt for each passenger is mandatory. The drivers must be 21 years of age and covered by insurance. Copies of the driver's license and automobile insurance listing the acceptable amount must be on file in the school office. Drivers for assigned groups may not provide treats or stop to eat en route unless specifically directed to do so by the administration.
No child will be allowed to participate in a school-sponsored field trip unless the field trip permission slip is signed by a parent or guardian and returned to the teacher two days prior to the field trip. Only students from Our Mother of Good Counsel School may go on scheduled class outings. If parents are assigned as chaperones they must have a TB test on file with the school, signed Archdiocesan form on working with minors, appropriate identification and travel documents and must follow all Archdiocesan policies regarding safety.
Students are supervised by the teacher or parent chaperone at all times during a field trip.
If emergencies arise the teacher is to notify administration immediately and take action necessary to secure the safety of all students.
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