Sandy Hook Promise Training East Bronx Students to Spot Signs of Social Isolation and Foster Kindness
Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit educational group created in the wake of a mass school shooting, is training Bronx District 9 students to spot the signs of social isolation and reach out with a friendly gesture in hopes of creating safer school communities.
"Know the Signs" Programs
Created after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. on December 14, 2012, Sandy Hook Promise’s "Know the Signs" programs have trained millions of students and staff across the country. The programs are credited with preventing at least 16 credible planned school shootings.
Training at CIS 303
CIS 303 in the Morris Heights neighborhood, which has about 300 sixth- through eighth-grade students, partnered with Sandy Hook Promise last year and is seeing positive results. An October 8 training session for all students centered around a simple mantra: "Start with hello."
Spotting Signs of Isolation
In the training, students discussed the difference between alone and lonely, guided by Sara Militello, a former educator and associate vice president of implementation and partner success with Sandy Hook Promise. While time alone is healthy for everyone, prolonged isolation and loneliness can lead young people into despair and potentially violence.
Actions to Help Others Feel Included
Militello talked the students through different actions they can take — ranging from small to big to giant — to help others feel included. Anything from commenting on a social media post to inviting someone to walk home after school can make a big difference, she told the students.
Simple Conversation Starters
Militello also suggested simple conversation starters can help get things started, such as "What’s your favorite chip?" which yielded dozens of hands being raised. Asking "Would you rather only keep TikTok or Instagram?" also showed how easy it is to get to know others.
Conclusion
By weaving violence prevention concepts throughout the school day and establishing norms of kindness, Sandy Hook Promise is creating safer school communities. Through their "Know the Signs" programs, they have trained millions of students and staff across the country, preventing at least 16 credible planned school shootings. By partnering with schools like CIS 303, they are actively working to prevent gun violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Sandy Hook Promise?
- Sandy Hook Promise is a non-profit educational group created in the wake of a mass school shooting.
- What is the purpose of their "Know the Signs" programs?
- The purpose is to train students and staff to spot the signs of social isolation and reach out with a friendly gesture in hopes of creating safer school communities.
- How has their work been received?
- Their programs have been credited with preventing at least 16 credible planned school shootings.
