KY Safe Schools Week 2006 “Great Kids Make Great Communities” 1

Safe Schools Week 2006 Media Design Campaign sponsored by

Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse

250 Taylor Education Building

University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0001

www.kysafeschools.org 877-805-4277

With special thanks to:

KY Department of Education Project Safe Neighborhoods

University of Kentucky This campaign is made possible through grants and support provided by the partners mentioned above. This project was supported by Grant No. 2003-GP-CX-0547 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United State Department of Justice

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Campaign Information Safe Schools Begin with ME! ……………………………………………………… 3

♦ Eligible Participants ♦ Theme of 2006 Campaign ♦ Competition Categories

Let’s Get Started! …………………………………………………………………… 4 10 Tips for a Successful Campaign …………………………………………… 5 Responsibilities of the Coordinator …………………………………………… 6 Timeline …………………………………………………………………………… 7 Competition Rules …………………………………………………………………… 8 Suggested Learning Activities …………………………………………………… 9-13

♦ Introduction ♦ Overview “Social Norms” Marketing ♦ Positive Health Behaviors ♦ English Language Arts Curriculum ♦ Fine Arts Curriculum ♦ Mathematics Curriculum ♦ Health & Science

Suggested Activities for Grades K-4 …………………………………………… 14 Forms Student Entry Form …………………………………………………………………… 15 Sample Model Consent Form …………………………………………………… 16 Judging Form …………………………………………………………………… 17 School Winners Entry Form …………………………………………………… 18 Judges’ Response Form …………………………………………………………… 19 Resources Sample Memo to Parents …………………………………………………………… 20 Sample Press Release …………………………………………………………… 21 Internet Resources …………………………………………………………………… 22 Safe Schools Week Flyer …………………………………………………………… 23 Contest Promotion Flyer …………………………………………………………… 24

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Kentucky Safe Schools Week Theme: Safe Schools Begin with Me! Emphasis: Great Kids Make Great Communities! Kentucky Safe Schools Week is designed to promote healthy choices and healthy lifestyles of Kentucky youth. Participation in the campaign results in the increased awareness and knowledge of the effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, as well as the consequences of, and alternatives to, using guns to resolve problems. The desired goal of the campaign is to reduce youth’s potential personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse and violence. The Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse (KCSS) in collaboration with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is incorporating media and marketing strategies into the Safe Schools Week campaign in order to promote safe and healthy communities throughout the state of Kentucky. KCSS and PSN encourage youth to focus on both the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and alternatives to and consequences of using guns to resolve problems. This weeklong initiative serves as an academic tool for teachers and youth providers to teach about creating a healthy climate in schools through health education, physical education, and family/community involvement. “Safe Schools Begin with Me” is the theme of Kentucky’s Safe Schools Week. The emphasis for the 2006 Campaign is “Great Kids Make Great Communities.” The campaign serves as a vehicle for youth creativity and stimulates conversation about safe and healthy lifestyles and communities. The activities offered in the curriculum manual serve as a springboard for discussion about safety which will not only affect the students in your school/center, but student’s families. When youth and adults work together to improve a community great things are achieved. Youth volunteers engage in meaningful activities and resources that promote social, educational, emotional, career, and spiritual growth. Youth community involvement is important in creating safer neighborhoods and safer schools; safe schools exist in safe communities. COMPETITION CATEGORIES Bookmark: Two bookmark winners from K-4th and two winners 5th-8th Grade**. Editorial Essay: One essay winner from 5th-8th and one winner 9th-12th. **Students are still eligible to participate in the competition without grade level competitions, if they are the sole representatives of the school. A sponsor from the school still must be selected but the student is still qualified to take part.

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Let’s Get Started!

1. Review your responsibilities as Campaign Coordinator by referring to page 6. 2. Review the campaign categories. Decide if you will encourage your students or youth to

develop entries for all or selected categories. One entry per student for all categories will be accepted for final entry submission to the KCSS; however, you may choose to allow students to enter more than one entry for one or more categories for your local campaign. Remember, each category may have up to two winners from each school submitted. **

3. Inform parents of their children’s involvement in Kentucky Safe Schools Week (see Sample Memo for Parents – page 20).

4. Carefully review the format specifications for the campaign categories regarding time and word limits. Entries not meeting these specifications will not be considered for final judging in the statewide campaign. Review the Judging Criteria with your students so that you may encourage “winning” creations from your students.

5. Create a plan as to how you will promote the campaign in your setting. Review the Timeline on page 7 so you can plan ample time for your classroom activities. Consult the suggested activities for possible implementation into your classroom instruction and lesson plans. Consult the Internet Resource list (page 22) for further information about substance abuse and classroom activities. Consult with your local resources, such as your sheriff’s office, health department, etc. to obtain further assistance with presentations, obtaining factual information about drugs, alcohol and gun violence, creating a panel of judges and whole project planning.

6. Plan a school assembly or group/class presentation in your campaign plan whether it is to kick off the competition or to recognize the local winners.

7. Only one design per category and level from each student may be submitted to the state judging. It is advised that your campaign plan include an on-site judging session to select the best entries to submit for final judging by KCSS.

8. Have fun! Encourage your students and youth to enjoy their creative adventures as they learn about what they can do to make a difference in their community and prevent gun violence.

9. Review the following “10 Tips for a Successful Campaign” for further hints to ensure that your efforts result in a beneficial, enjoyable and useful learning experience for your students and youth.

** Students are still eligible to participate in the competition without grade level competitions, if they are the sole representatives of the school. A sponsor from the school still must be selected but the student is still qualified to take part

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10 Tips for a Successful Campaign

1. Encourage participants to be as creative as possible.

2. Promote the campaign through posters, announcements, group discussions, etc.

3. Ask for help! Have older youth, teachers, PTA’s and parents help coordinate the campaign and judge the entries.

4. Make sure participants know the criteria and time frame of the campaign. Remind them that final entries submitted to the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse are due on or before Friday, March 31, 2006.

5. Hold an assembly or schedule a presentation to learn about producing effective media messages and to encourage participation.

6. Make all participants feel like winners! Display all entries throughout your building.

7. Even though two winning entries per category may be submitted to the final statewide campaign, come up with your own special school awards for 2nd place, 3rd place, honorable mention, etc. Solicit local businesses to donate awards like movie tickets, gift certificates, etc.

8. Incorporate your organization’s judging into an evening that is already scheduled with parents so they can help judge and see all of the messages.

9. Reward all participating students and youth with a Pizza Party or other treat! Local banks or other community organizations/companies are usually happy to fund these events. Provide each participant with a Participation Certificate.

10. If English is not a participant’s native language, ask him/her if he/she would feel more comfortable creating a message in their native language. If you have an entry in a language other than English, have someone who understands that language be involved in your judging! Also, please provide a translation along with the winning entry when you submit it for the final, statewide judging.

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Responsibilities of the Coordinator The Coordinator is the contact person in each individual school building or community

based organization. For instance, the Coordinator could be an FCCLA Advisor, a FRYSC Coordinator, a School Counselor or a PTA member. The person in this role does not necessarily have to carry out the entire campaign, and may ask others for assistance in promoting the campaign, working with youth, and judging the entries. Familiarize yourself with the instruction manual, guidelines and timeline. Promote the campaign by copying and placing included flyer throughout the building. Ask for assistance from your co-workers in promoting the campaign and working with the youth on their

messages. Encourage teachers and other youth leaders to use the campaign as an activity with these youth. Make sure that the people who are working with youth on the campaign target the emphasis and use the

questions listed in the instruction packet. Remind teachers, youth leaders, parents, and youth that entries must be the work of youth only and must

respond to the appropriate theme and target audience. Schedule your organization or building’s campaign and decide whether it will take place in the whole school

or the entire organization. If you are a school, decide if your campaign will take place in individual classes only – like art, health, physical education, English, etc. The building campaign may take place any time before March 31st.

Send the enclosed sample memo home to parents to make them aware of the campaign. Discuss information about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs with teachers and youth participating in the

campaign. (Encourage youth to take this information home and review it with parents and siblings.) Refer to the enclosed Resource List, and background information for information and Internet resources.

The KCSS Clearinghouse strongly recommends having an assembly or presentation at your location to promote the competition.

Coordinate the preliminary judging of your school or center’s entries. Refer to the enclosed judging form (page 17).We recommend including older youth, parents, local community leaders, and teachers as members of the judging panel.

Take pictures of your organization’s winners and submit them, along with the enclosed sample press release (page 21), to the appropriate newspapers in your area. Display all entries throughout the building and congratulate all youth for their entries.

Submit “First Round” winning entries by Friday, March 31, 2006 to: Erin Day and Jennifer Watson Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse 250 Taylor Education Building, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506 OR E.Day@uky.edu

Include name, grade level, and school or agency on the back of each entry with coordinator’s contact information as well.

Submit a completed School Winners Entry Form (page 18) with your entries. Make sure all entries submitted to the Final Statewide Campaign are in the specified format. If they’re

not in the specified format, they will automatically be disqualified from the campaign. Document the total number of participants in your class, school, program or center on the Individual

Participants Form. Submit this form with your winning entries by Friday, March 31, 2006. Provide a Certificate of Participation to every youth that submitted an entry. If any participant would like his or her artwork returned, please clearly indicate such on the back of the entry.

Submitted entries will be available to retrieve at the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse after the final judging and award ceremony.

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Timeline Phase 1: The first phase of the campaign takes place within the individual organizations and buildings. Groups and organizations must designate a Coordinator. The coordinator will promote the campaign, collect the entries, ensure entries meet specifications and coordinate the judging. A judging form (page 17) is attached for your use. We recommend utilizing older youth as assistants or mentors to younger students. High School students in your school to work with elementary schools could serve as a beneficial learning experience for both. Once all participating organization entries have been judged within your school or facility, two winners per school, per category may be selected for the Statewide Judging. The Coordinator is responsible for submitting the “First Round” winning entries to the office of the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse by Friday, March 31, 2006. Remember, only one entry per student to the state level.

Phase 2: After the “First Round” winning entries are submitted to the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse for the final Statewide Judging, the second phase of the contest takes place.

DEADLINE for submitting “First Round” winning entries: Friday, March 31, 2006, 4:00 PM

Entries must be mailed or hand delivered to the following address: Erin Day and Jennifer Watson Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse 250 Taylor Education Building, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

OR entries may be delivered via e-mail to E.Day@uky.edu

Note: No entries will be accepted after this date. Maximum of two local winners per age group for the Bookmark- Essay. Each entry must have the following contact information for student and coordinator

attached to the back (using masking tape or a label) or in accompanying email: Name (Student and Coordinator) Student’s Grade

School or Organization Address, Email and Phone Number (Student and Coordinator)

A completed School Winners Entry Form (page 18) and Judges’ Response Form (page 19) must accompany the entries.

A completed model consent form with guardian’s signature (page 15). Entries without appropriate contact information and forms will be disqualified.

A panel selected by the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse will conduct the final

judging using the same criteria as the local judging.

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Competition Rules All entries must send a clear message of how youth can help reduce gun violence or promote gun safety. Please be sensitive to copyright infringement laws and do not submit any entries that include material that is not public domain. Photographs must include written model release forms (page 19) or proof of public domain status. Just because something appears on a website does NOT mean you are allowed to use it. Please note: It is very important to stay within the format specifications regarding time, size and word limits. Entries not meeting these specifications will not be considered for final judging in the statewide campaign. Youth may enter more than one category, but local winner submissions to KCSS are limited to one entry per youth per category.

Bookmark Entries may be submitted by youth in grade levels Kindergarten-8th. Four winners, two winners from K-4th and two winners from 5th-8th grade, will be selected for publication and distribution across the state of Kentucky. Some designs may appear as newspaper advertisements and/or billboards. Bookmarks should promote youth community involvement and ways youth can create a safer community.

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRIES: Dimensions: 3” x 8” OR 4.25” x 5.5” Format: Word 2000, PageMaker 6.5 (or later) or .PDF files--only on CDs or emailed. Layout: Single, Spot or Full Color format is acceptable

Essay Entries may be submitted by youth in grades 5-12 only. Two winners, one from 5th-8th grade and one from 9th-12th grades, will be selected for publication in Kentucky newspapers and on the KCSS website. Essay’s should demonstrate how community (both youth and adults) can come together to prevent drug, alcohol, and gun use.

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRIES: Length: 500 words or less Format: Word 2000 (or newer) or .PDF file formats on CD or emailed. Layout: One inch margins all around with Times or Times New Roman font in 12 point.

A special recognition is planned for all “Safe Schools Begin with Me” state winners and their families

at the KCSS Safe Schools, Successful Students conference in October 2006.

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Suggested Learning Activities for Grades 5-12

The following suggested activities comply with education standards for Grades 5-8. Educators and prevention specialists gathered to develop activities appropriate for the VERB:Physical Activity in the Classroom Campaign, which have been in turn adapted for use in Kentucky. The Centers for Disease Control began a Youth Media Campaign to integrate physical activity in the class room. These classroom activities promote healthy lifestyles by trying a different VERB each week or each month, includes activity ideas for home or in the classroom. The following activities are a culmination of these developed activities and curricula. Additional activities may be found at many of the websites in the resources portion of this handbook.

The suggested classroom activities are not obesity prevention education curriculum, but offer a variety of ways to easily integrate prevention activities into different subject areas. The suggested activities utilize proven effective prevention principles. Most of the activities require a high level of student involvement and hands-on participation. They also encourage critical thinking and life skills development. The service learning activities provide opportunities for students to share anti-violence messages with others. Some of the activities were adapted from the VERB Physical Activity Campaign and more information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control website http://www.cdc.gov/youthcampaign/materials/tweens/.

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English Language Arts

These suggested activities are designed to develop language skills for information and understanding, for critical analysis and evaluation, and language for social interaction. This is a recommended curriculum that enables teachers to meet many of the existing objectives in the language arts curriculum, while focusing on the topic of substance abuse prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion. This is an exciting way for students to learn about language arts through practical application of their skills. It is suggested that each activity be prefaced with students reading written information about alcohol and drugs, collecting factual data, reviewing multimedia materials, listening to professionals and presenters involved in the prevention field, discussing their personal experiences with peer and societal pressures, and discussing their views regarding substance use and abuse. Activity 1 - Draw three columns on the board with the headings: “Negative Consequences”, “Positive Consequences” and “Resistance Skills”. Ask the students what they already know about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and/or other drugs and these substances future impact on a person’s life. List all the negative consequences that the students can offer. Supplement the student’s responses with factual information (see Internet Resources, pages 24-25). Then ask students to identify the positive consequences of staying drug-free and healthy. List these under “Positive Consequences”. Then ask students to identify different ways they can resist peer or societal pressure to use drugs. Encourage the students to brainstorm ideas, and consider inviting an older youth to join the brainstorming session. Service Learning Opportunity: Have the students do the same exercise with younger students. Activity 2 - Explain to students that they are to write a letter to a friend who has a concern about marijuana. The letter should include factual information about the negative consequences of marijuana use, positive consequences of not using this drug, and advise to the friend about resisting pressures to use marijuana. Divide the class into groups and have the students share their letters. Guide the students to combine the strongest parts of all the letters to create one new letter. Present and/or display each group’s letter to share and reinforce the anti-drug messages with others (see http://www.theantidrug.com/teachersguide/activities_antidrugadvise.html for more delineation of this activity and to obtain developed student worksheets and suggested resources). Activity 3 - Encourage youth to write a newspaper editorial about local alcohol and drug use, and the dangers related to this use. Review different newspapers to gain knowledge about editorials and their format. Consider inviting a local news reporter to your class to share with the students. Ask students to talk with peers and gain information about alcohol and drug use of local youth. Have the students research the Internet for newspaper editorials regarding the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Instruct the students to select a target audience. Print the students’ written editorials, distribute to peers and perhaps even submit to school newspapers, PTA newsletters, and/or local newspapers. Service Learning Opportunity: Students visit an after-school program and assist younger students with cutting out advertisements about cigarettes. Provide an anti-smoking message to these younger youth. Activity 4 - Guide students to create website designs. Have the student’s review many website designs either in school or at home, especially those focused on alcohol and drug abuse or promoting healthy schools and lifestyles. Encourage the students to select a target population and create a website design appropriate for that population.

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Fine Arts

The suggested activities for Fine Arts enable teachers to meet many of the existing objectives in their visual arts curriculum, while incorporating the topic of alcohol and drug abuse prevention along with creating messages to promote activity among students and their families. It is suggested that each activity be prefaced with students reading written information about alcohol and drugs and healthy living, collecting factual data, reviewing multimedia materials, listening to professionals and presenters involved in the prevention field, discussing their personal experiences with peer and societal pressures, and sharing their views regarding substance use and abuse and/or defining healthy living. Activity 1 - Inform students that they will create anti-drug or activity promoting messages (poster designs, t-shirt designs, and websites). Introduce the activity by discussing that the general public is greatly influenced by the media. Explain that many advertising strategies are designed to sell a product or service, while other strategies are created to send a particular message. Review and collect examples of print advertisements that encourage the selling of a product or service and those that send a message. Then review advertisements that send anti-drug messages. Discuss elements of persuasive communication and its effect upon people. Explain that it is the students’ assignment to create a print advertisement that sends a message about the danger of drug use, ways to help prevent drug use among young people, as well as the positive consequences for remaining drug-free. Once the students have created their print advertisements, have them share them with each other, with other classes or groups, and even present to community groups. (Consult http://www.theantidrug.com/teachersguide/activities_psa.html for further delineated instructions, to obtain already developed student workshops and suggested resources to provide you with information for this activity). Service Learning Opportunity: Make and post anti-drug posters throughout local community. Activity 2 - Instruct students that they will create t-shirt designs declaring “My anti-drug”. Have the students review the http://freevibe.com website to learn more about the “My anti-drug” Campaign. This website is a popular youth-oriented drug prevention website which provides drug facts and information to help young people understand the real and serious consequences of drug use. The site includes a searchable fact-based drug information database and pertinent Internet links. It was produced by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and is the flagship website for youth outreach as part of the integrated national Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Encourage the students to enter the hobby, person, passion or interest that keeps them away from drugs. Consider having the students draw their design onto T-shirts with fabric marker or paint, or via iron-on transfers. Service Learning Opportunity: Students visit a retirement center and share their chosen “My Anti-Drug” with a senior citizen. Describe their learning activity to them. Activity 3 - Instruct students that they will collectively create a mural that illustrates Healthy Choices and Lifestyles vs. Alcohol and Drug Use. Review many murals to become familiar with this art form. Study the different mediums used to create murals. Select an actual site where the mural might be created (even if the mural will not be painted at that site). Discuss the limitations and the positive features of this site (difficulty obtaining community approval, good community exposure, art safety issues, artist exposure, etc). Encourage the students to select a target audience and create an appropriate design. Have the students create a plan for their interactions, agreeing on a design for the mural, and the actual painting of the mural. Support the students as they actually paint the mural (on large sheets of white paper taped to a class wall or hall, or perhaps your facility would allow the mural to be actually painted on a wall). Have the students discuss their experiences and what they learned. Share the mural through pictures, including in school newspapers and/or newspaper coverage.

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Health

The learning objectives of the following suggested activities include Normative Education and the learning of resistance skills. The activities will help young people understand the social norms theory and how it applies to their lives. It will raise awareness about certain behaviors and help encourage young people to live well. It is suggested that each activity be prefaced with students reading written information about alcohol and drugs, collecting factual data, reviewing multimedia materials, listening to professionals and presenters involved in the prevention field, discussing their personal experiences with peer and societal pressures, and sharing their views regarding substance use and abuse.

Activity 1 - Instruct students that they will develop a class survey about healthy and high-risk behaviors. Draw two columns on the board with the headings “Healthy Behaviors” and “High-Risk Behaviors.” Encourage the students to brainstorm, identifying healthy and risky behaviors and attitudes. List these under the appropriate columns. Guide the students to choose one or two of these behaviors that are related to violence, or drug and alcohol use, for their survey. The teacher/adult facilitator then should formulate the survey questions based upon the subject behaviors or attitudes that the youth selected. Phrase the survey questions appropriately so as to be sensitive to and consistent with school policies. The survey questions should be arranged in pairs, for example: “How many times did you drink alcohol last month?” How many times do you think other students in this class/team/school drank alcohol last month?’ “Do you think smoking cigarettes makes a person look cool?’ “Do you think your classmates think smoking cigarettes makes a person look cool?” Distribute the survey to your students. Assure students that this is an anonymous survey and encourage them to answer honestly so that their results are valid. Provide every student with a pencil so that all the surveys look the same when completed. Have students answer the questions and deposit their surveys in a box. The facilitator shuffles the surveys and redistributes one to each student. The facilitator then reads the questions and asks for a show of hands for each possible answer on the survey students are holding. The results are tallied on the blackboard. Review the discrepancy between actual and perceived substance use. Instruct students about Normative Education or Social Norms Theory. (Activity developed by Alan Berkowitz, PHD) Activity 2 - Inform the students that they will create a puppet show to display resistance strategies (behaviors) to avoid being pressured to use harmful drugs, such as huff inhalants. Research, collect, and review information about inhalants. List the Negative Consequences of inhalants, and the Positive Consequences of not using this drug. Encourage the students to brainstorm Resistance Strategies for not using inhalants when pressured by peers. Discuss the various resistance strategies suggested by the national Anti-Media Drug Campaign: Walk away/leave, give an excuse or a reason, make a joke, hang with others who choose not to use, avoid possible problem situation, say “no” and repeat it. Discuss that it is important for youth to be prepared for situations where they feel pressured to use any kind of illegal substance. Being prepared means thinking ahead and repeatedly practicing resistance skills before the situation arises in a social situation: change the subject, ignore it, offer an alternative. Divide the students into groups. Have each group create a script for their puppet show, reminding the students that the goal is to demonstrate resistance skills. Provide the students with art supplies to create puppets, props and scenery. Have each group perform their puppet show for the rest of the class. Discuss the many resistance strategies demonstrated. (Check out this website, http://www.theantidrug.com/teachersguide/activities_puppet.html for teachers guide, student worksheets and suggested resources information). Service Learning Opportunity: Perform puppet shows with anti-drug messages to younger students.

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Mathematics

This activity allows the instructor to meet many of the existing objectives in the grades 5-8 mathematics curriculum utilizing enjoyable activities providing alcohol and drug awareness and prevention information. It is suggested that each activity be prefaced with students reading written information about alcohol and drugs, collecting factual data, reviewing multimedia materials, listening to professionals and presenters involved in the prevention field, discussing their personal experiences with peer and societal pressures, and sharing their views regarding substance use and abuse. Activity 1 - Instruct students to use national and local data to understand and use numbers in a variety of equivalent forms to convey information about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use/nonuse. Students can use the information to multiply and divide three digit numbers and convert fractions into decimals and percentages. The percentage can then be used to represent a statement in one of two ways, depending on what the type of message is to be conveyed. For example, if students wanted to emphasize how many teens use tobacco, they would want to present a statistic using a statement such as this: 5% of 7th graders in Kentucky smoke cigarettes. However, if you wanted to emphasize the positive health behaviors of teens not using tobacco they would want to present a statistic using a statement such as this: 95% of 7th graders in Kentucky choose not to use tobacco! OR most Kentucky teens (95%) choose not to use tobacco!

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Suggested Activities for Grades K-4

The suggested activities for elementary youth focus on the dangers and risks associated with violence. This approach has been more effective with elementary age youth because they are more concrete thinkers. As children age, they develop ideas and strategies for solving conflict based on what they witness from their parents, peer groups, media, etc. It is important to instill non-violent alternatives to solving conflict early, so children do no develop violent habits or rationalize violence when they get older. Some of the activities were adapted from the Join Together Action Kit and more information can be found at the Join Together website www.jointogether.org.

Art

Collages Draw pictures or cut up old magazines to make a collage that tells about all the cool things young people can do when they choose not to use violence. Find pictures of people playing their favorite sport, running fast, hanging out with friends and doing other healthy activities.

Language Arts Journal Writing Write down some of the things that make you feel good about yourself. Include things that make you proud – your good qualities, your accomplishments, and things you do well. Do the things on your list help you say no to using violence? Are there things on the list that would be harder to accomplish if you used violence? Letter Writing Encourage the students to do some research and publicly express their findings about the connection between gun violence and social problems, such as suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse. Write letters to local elected officials and state representatives, as well as the editorials to the community newspaper. Many elected officials gauge public opinion on letters they receive from people in the community, so letters to public officials can be an effective way to draw their attention to gun violence. Letters published in community newspapers can alert members of the community about the consequences of gun violence and encourage people to get involved in local efforts to reduce gun violence.

Mathematics Use local data from your police department to highlight violence problems in the community. Find out how many instances of gun violence were connected with drug and alcohol abuse. If such data has not been collected, work with a local agency like the health department of sheriff’s department to encourage them to include this information in the future. Sharing data and getting clearer information on the connection between gun violence and social problems will help agencies better deal with gun violence issues.

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Student Entry Form

Please complete this form and submit it with your entry to your local campaign coordinator.

Sponsor’s Name:___________________________________________________ Sponsor’s Email Address: _______________________________ Sponsor’s Phone # (incl. area code): _______________________ Student’s Name: ___________________________________________________ Student’s Age: ________ Grade Level: _________ Student’s Home Address: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Student’s HomePhone # (incl. area code):________________________ School or District: ________________________________________ Contest Category (check one):

Bookmark: ______Essay: _______ I affirm that this entry is my own original work, and I release all copyrights to the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS). I understand that my entry may be reproduced in any or all, but not limited to, the following forms: public service announcements, print and broadcast promotional materials, web-based formats, and billboards. The format will be determined solely by the KCSS. You also have my permission to use these images for any other promotional or display purposes, as long as these purposes are limited to KCSS promotional materials. __________________________________________________________________ Student’s signature Date Parent’s Signature (if student is under 18)

**Please remember to attach completed Model Consent Form(s) to this entry form, if appropriate.**

Model Consent Form Doris Settles Clearinghouse Coordinator KY Center for School Safety 250 Taylor Education Building University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0001 Dear Ms. Settles:

This is to give permission to the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS) Clearinghouse to

use my photographic image or recorded voice images in promoting the KCSS and its programs.

We understand that the images and/or voice images may be broadcast to the public through a

variety of public service announcements, print and broadcast promotional materials, and web-

based formats. The format will be determined solely by the KCSS. You also have my permission

to use these images for any other promotional or display purposes, as long as these purposes

are limited to KCSS promotional materials.

Model Name (printed) Model Signature Date Parent Signature (if under 18)

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KY Safe Schools Week 2006 17

“Safe Schools Being with Me” 2006

Judging Form

Below are the criteria that will be used in the final judging. We suggest you use this as a guideline in your school’s or organization’s judging. Entries do not have to meet all criteria, but we’re looking for more “yes’s” than “no’s.”

1. Material clearly communicates that use of

alcohol, drugs and guns to resolve a problem is unhealthy and harmful for our community.

Yes_____ No_____ N/A_____

2. Media Design provides a colorful or dramatic message that promotes healthy communities.

Yes_____ N/A_____

3. Material does not glamorize or glorify the use of alcohol, drugs, and guns.

Yes_____ N/A_____

4. Material targeting youth does not depict users as role models.

Yes_____ N/A_____

5. Material is culturally and ethnically sensitive. Yes_____ N/A_____

6. Language is appropriate.

Yes_____ N/A_____ 7. Format / graphics quality is acceptable.

Yes_____ N/A_____

Messages are appealing

Yes_____ N/A_____ Are believable Yes_____ N/A_____ Create awareness Yes_____ N/A_____ Persuade Yes_____ N/A_____ Call for action Yes_____ N/A_____ Offer healthy alternatives to using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs Yes_____ N/A_____ Are creative and artistic Yes_____ N/A_____ Will reproduce well Yes_____ N/A_____ Questions 10, 11, & 12 are ESSAY ONLY 8. Material supports youth involvement in community leadership and activities. Yes_____ N/A_____ 9. Material gives a clear message of no substance use for persons under 18.

Yes_____ N/A_____

10. Material gives a clear message against using guns to resolve disputes.

Yes_____ N/A_____

School Winners Entry Form Please complete this form and submit with winning entries to:

Erin Day Kentucky Center for School Safety 250 Taylor Education Building, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506 ATTN: “Be Healthy, Be Safe” Media Campaign

Coordinator Name:_________________________________________ Coordinator Phone:_________________________________________ Coordinator Email:__________________________________________ School/District:_____________________________________________ Check one: Bookmark Winner____ OR Essay Winner:____

Name__________________________________________________

Age___________

Grade Level____________

Home Address___________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

We must receive this form with each entry postmarked by Friday, March 31, 2006. Each

student must have their own form. Two entries per category per school is permitted in appropriate grade levels, although

local competitions may themselves select and recognize more than two winners.

Judge’s Response Form

“Great Kids Make Great Communities” 2006

Please complete this assessment form for your local entries. Your responses will be used to help determine the kinds of messages that have the biggest impact on parents and other adults. After reviewing the entries for your school/district...

1. What message(s) do you remember most clearly from the entries you reviewed?

2. What did the messages make you think about?

3. Why do you think the winning message(s) stand out from the others you reviewed?

4. Do you think the message(s) would have the same effect on others like you? Why or why not?

5. Do you have any other comments about the messages/entries you saw?

6. How do you think we could improve on this campaign next year?

Sample Memo to Parents Put on your school’s letterhead and fill in the blanks.

2006 Safe Schools Media Campaign

The Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS) is kicking off the 2006 “Safe Schools Begin with Me!” campaign this year with a student competition for Kentucky schools. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Great Kids Make Great Communities”. Youth are being asked to create bookmarks, posters, and editorial essays focusing on the positive benefits of youth becoming involved in keeping communities safe. Safe Schools Week 2006 is designed to encourage young people and the community to learn more about alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and guns, and their negative effects upon individuals, families and communities. The campaign offers students and leaders activities to bring out the creativity of the youth, while forming powerful prevention messages in their own minds. The deadline for submission of school-wide entries is Friday, March 31, 2006. Youth in grades K-12 are eligible to participate in various categories. These messages will then be forwarded to KCSS for judging in the final, statewide judging campaign scheduled during the month of June 2006. The winning messages will be unveiled at the KCSS annual conference in October 2006 and distributed statewide during Safe Schools Month in October 2006. Participating youths and their teacher, youth provider and family will be invited to attend the reception. Please encourage your children to participate! The Safe Schools Week campaign has grown in scope each year and it always proves to be a rewarding experience for those who participate. It is so rewarding for the youth to learn about violence prevention through the creative process of this campaign. It is exciting for all the youth to see their designs displayed at their school. It is especially exciting for the winners to see their artwork turned into a poster, television commercial, and even see them on television, billboards, and on school walls. The winners will also be featured in newspaper articles. If you have any questions about the campaign, please call (school coordinator’s name and phone number) Thank you, {Coordinator’s name}

Sample Press Release Put on your school’s letterhead and fill in the blanks.

2005 Safe Schools Week Media Campaign

For information: (insert Coordinator’s name and phone number)

For immediate release - (insert school name) announces winners of campaign (city, KY), (mm/dd/yy)-(school name) Our school recently completed the first round of judging for the 3rd Annual “Safe Schools Begin with Me” media design campaign. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Great Kids Make Great Communities.” The campaign, which is sponsored by the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse, among others, was developed to create safe communities through discouraging alcohol, drug and gun use as ways to solve problems by young people in our community. Youth were asked to create messages about community involvement as a means to safe communities. Messages could be in the form of a bookmark or essay. Judging for school-wide entries was conducted on (insert your mm/dd/yy). The panel of judges included teachers, parents and students (and anyone else – for instance, a person of distinction in the community). (Insert quote from coordinator such as “how hard it was to judge the entries because they were all so good,” said Coordinator Jane Doe. “We’d like to thank all the students for participating and wish the winners luck in the final Statewide Campaign.”) Bookmark Winners (Insert names and grades) Essay Winners (Insert Names and grades) These entries have been submitted to the Kentucky Center for School Safety Clearinghouse for judging in the final statewide campaign. The winning entries in the statewide campaign will be professionally produced and aired/distributed throughout Kentucky. Winners of the statewide “Safe Schools Begin with Me!” Campaign will be announced in Summer of 2006 and published during Fall 2006.

Internet Resources

General websites: Annual Report on School Safety: http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/gfsa/index.html Early Warning Guide: www.air.org/cecp/guide Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy: http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us/isssa Join Together Online: www.jointogether.org Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse: www.ncjrs.org Kentucky Dept. of Education – Safe Schools: http://www.education.ky.gov/results_plng/policy/safe.asp Mississippi Dept. of Education Office of Safe & Orderly Schools: www.mde.k12.ms.us/lead/osos Missouri Center for Safe Schools: http://education.umkc.edu/safe-school National Center for Health Statistics: www.cdc.gov/nchs/ National Initiative to Improve the Health of Adolescents: http://nahic.ucsf.edu/index.php/niiah/C9 National Resource Center for Safe Schools: www.safetyzone.org National School Safety Center: www.nssc1.org National School Safety & Security Services: www.schoolsecurity.org New York State Center for School Safety: www.mhric.org/scss Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org Ohio Safe Schools Center: http://www.ebasedprevention.org Pennsylvania Center for Safe Schools: www.center-school.org/viol_prev/css/index.html Tennessee School Safety Center: www.state.tn.us/education/sp/sptssc.htm Texas School Safety Center: www.txssc.swt.edu Virginia Center for School Safety: www.virginiaschoolsafety.com

Websites specific to school health issues: National Center for Chronic Disease

Prevention and Health Promotion: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/index.htmThe Century Council (fights drunk driving & underage drinking):www.centurycouncil.org Clubdrugs.org: www.clubdrugs.org Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America: www.cadca.org Creating Safe & Drug-Free Schools: An Action Guide: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/safescho.pdf FACE Truth and Clarity on Alcohol: www.faceproject.org National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: www.niaaa.nih.gov National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: http://www.mediacampaign.comNIDA Goes to School: Science-Based Drug Abuse Education:

www.nida.nih.gov/GoestoSchool/NIDAg2s.html Office of National Drug Control Policy: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools Program: www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov US Dept. of Health and Human Services & SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug

Information: www.health.org Websites especially good for parents:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Media Campaign: http://www.cdc.gov/youthcampaign/materials/adults/

VERB Fact Sheet:http://www.cdc.gov/youthcampaign/pressroom/factsheets.htmAlternative Fact Sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/youthcampaign/pressroom/backgrounders.htm

FamilyEducation.com: www.familyeducation.com Join Together: www.jointogether.org Student Pledge Against Gun Violence: www.pledge.org

Websites especially good for children & youth: Afterschool.gov http://afterschool.gov/cgi-binh/home.pl Join Together www.jointogether.org US Department of Justice for Kids & Youth www.usdoj.gov/kidspage