Safety & Security

TCISD Safety

It is the goal of TCISD to provide a safe environment in which all students can reach their highest potential. However, there are situations that occur in all areas of life which infect the environment and cause students to be distracted. These things can happen in the school, home and social situations.

At TCISD we are concerned with all areas of our students’ education and social/ emotional well-being. That is why we have provided some informational links that we feel would help students, parents and teachers to make safe choices.

Standard Response Protocols in Action

Hold!

Secure!

Lockdown!

Evacuate!

Shelter!

Standard Response Protocols

A uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to student safety.

The SRP’s development is ever evolving, created with extensive collaboration between experts such as first responders, school districts, and families. Its tactics are data-driven, researched and based on experience and best practices.

The SRP premise is simple. Five specific actions are communicated and performed during an incident. Each action is labeled with a “Term of Art” and is followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by all active participants, including students, staff, teachers and first responders. This aligns everyone for a swift and coordinated response.

Download a copy of the SRP in English and Spanish

Campus P3

One of the most effective safety and security tools we use in Texas City ISD is the P3 Campus app. It's an anonymous tip reporting application. We encourage all students, parents and community members to download it for free and use it when they know someone needs help.

What could you anonymously report on: abusive relationship, planned school attack, depression, domestic violence, sexual assault, drugs/alcohol abuse, suicide threat, theft, eating disorder, homelessness, child abuse, weapons, anger issues, missing student, bullying and anything else that could harm someone.

Visit the P3 Campus website today.

Safety Measures

School safety is more prevalent than ever and Texas City ISD is leading the way. Voters generously approved a school bond election that featured $6.5 million for enhanced school safety.

Check out the completed Bond 2018 Safety & Security features here.

crisis communication

Communication is a major part of our Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

In a true emergency, events happen fast and situations can vary from campus to campus. We will do our best to keep you informed in a timely manner, especially as it pertains to early or delayed dismissal times, transportation issues and any other changes to your child’s instructional day.

Visit the Crisis Communication Page for more details on communication when there is an emergency.

Terroristic Threat 4/22/21

April 22, 2021

Dear TCHS Families,

A Texas City High School 15-year-old was arrested today and will be charged with a felony terroristic threat after threatening the safety of students and staff at the school. This is not related to the investigation that took place on campus on April 21, 2021. Please know that TCISD takes all threats seriously and that we anticipate the District Attorney to also accept charges when someone threatens harm to others in our schools.

I want to refer you to the Mental Health America (MHA) website so that you can get a guide on leading a discussion with your kids about school safety. Visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/talking-kids-about-school-safety. The site also gives examples of behaviors that can be signs that a child needs professional help.

Texas City High School and Texas City ISD will not tolerate threats of harm to others. Please talk to your children and impress upon them the seriousness of threats in today’s society. Remind them to immediately report any concerns they have to any adult on campus or to use the free, anonymous Campus P3 app.

The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority and we will continue to be vigilant. We need your help to make sure that students know that it is not snitching when student safety could be compromised. It takes us all working together for us to have a safe, learning environment.

If you think your child could be a danger to themselves or others, please contact a school counselor, your child’s physician, or call MHA toll free at 1-800-969-6642.

Sincerely,

Melissa Duarte, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Download the Letter

When will I be notified?

Bullying & Antivictimization

Bullying

Advice for Kids

The key to helping kids is providing strategies that deal with bullying on an everyday basis and also help restore their self-esteem and regain a sense of dignity.

It may be tempting to tell a kid to fight back. After all, you're angry that your child is suffering and maybe you were told to "stand up for yourself" when you were young. And you may worry that your child will continue to suffer at the hands of the bully. But it's important to advise kids not to respond to bullying by fighting or bullying back. It can quickly escalate into violence, trouble, and someone getting injured. Instead, it's best to walk away from the situation, hang out with others, and tell an adult.

Here are some other strategies to discuss with kids that can help improve the situation and make them feel better:

Avoid the bully and use the buddy system. Use a different bathroom if a bully is nearby and don't go to your locker when there is nobody around. Make sure you have someone with you so that you're not alone with the bully. Buddy up with a friend on the bus, in the hallways, or at recess — wherever the bully is. Offer to do the same for a friend.
Hold the anger. It's natural to get upset by the bully, but that's what bullies thrive on. It makes them feel more powerful. Practice not reacting by crying or looking red or upset. It takes a lot of practice, but it's a useful skill for keeping off of a bully's radar. Sometimes kids find it useful to practice "cool down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down their angry words, taking deep breaths or walking away. Sometimes the best thing to do is to teach kids to wear a "poker face" until they are clear of any danger (smiling or laughing may provoke the bully).
Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully. Firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. Practice ways to ignore the hurtful remarks, like acting uninterested or texting someone on your cell phone. By ignoring the bully, you're showing that you don't care. Eventually, the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.
Tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom personnel at school can all help stop bullying.
Talk about it. Talk to someone you trust, such as your school counselor, teacher, sibling, or friend. They may offer some helpful suggestions, and even if they can't fix the situation, it may help you feel a little less alone.
Remove the incentives. If the bully is demanding your lunch money, start bringing your lunch. If he's trying to get your music player, don't bring it to school

Advice for Parents

Unless your child tells you about bullying — or has visible bruises or injuries — it can be difficult to figure out if it's happening.

But there are some warning signs. You might notice your child acting differently or seeming anxious, or not eating, sleeping well, or doing the things that he or she usually enjoys. When kids seem moodier or more easily upset than usual, or when they start avoiding certain situations, like taking the bus to school, it may be because of a bully.

If you suspect bullying but your child is reluctant to open up, find opportunities to bring up the issue in a more roundabout way. For instance, you might see a situation on a TV show and use it as a conversation starter, asking "What do you think of this?" or "What do you think that person should have done?" This might lead to questions like: "Have you ever seen this happen?" or "Have you ever experienced this?" You might want to talk about any experiences you or another family member had at that age.

Let your child know that if he or she is being bullied — or sees it happening to someone else — it's important to talk to someone about it, whether it's you, another adult (a teacher, school counselor, or family friend), or a sibling.

If your child tells you about a bully, focus on offering comfort and support, no matter how upset you are. Kids are often reluctant to tell adults about bullying. They feel embarrassed and ashamed that it's happening. They worry that their parents will be disappointed.

Sometimes kids feel like it's their own fault, that if they looked or acted differently it wouldn't be happening. Sometimes they're scared that if the bully finds out that they told, it will get worse. Others are worried that their parents won't believe them or do anything about it. Or kids worry that their parents will urge them to fight back when they're scared to.

Praise your child for being brave enough to talk about it. Remind your child that he or she isn't alone — a lot of people get bullied at some point. Emphasize that it's the bully who is behaving badly — not your child. Reassure your child that you will figure out what to do about it together.

Sometimes an older sibling or friend can help deal with the situation. It may help your daughter to hear how the older sister she idolizes was teased about her braces and how she dealt with it. An older sibling or friend may also be able to give you some perspective on what's happening at school, or wherever the bullying is happening, and help you figure out the best solution.

Take it seriously if you hear that the bullying will get worse if the bully finds out that your child told. You may want to talk to the bully's parents. Teachers or counselors are probably the best ones to contact first. If you've tried those methods and still want to speak to the bullying child's parents, it's best to do so in a context where a school official, such as a counselor, can mediate.

If your child is the bully

Dating Violence

Patterns of Controlled Behavior
Dating Bill of Rights

Patterns of Controlled Behavior

One in five teenagers has experienced violence in a dating relationship and one in three girls who have been in a serious relationship say they've been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner.

Dating abuse isn't an argument every once in a while, or a bad mood after a bad day. Dating abuse (or relationship abuse) is a pattern of controlling behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend.

If you are in a relationship, ask yourself "Does my boyfriend or girlfriend………."

Call or page me frequently to find out where I am, who I’m with, or what I’m doing?
Tell me what to wear?
Have to be with me all the time?
Call me names, insult me, or criticize me?
Act jealous, possessive, controlling, or bossy?
Give me orders or make all the decisions?
Get angry very quickly, or fight a lot?
Threaten to hurt me or someone in my family if I don’t do what they want?
Threaten to hurt themselves if I don’t do what they want?
Follow me or track where I go?
Show up repeatedly at my home or work uninvited?
Check up on me all the time?
Refuse to allow me normal contact with my family and friends?
Shove, punch, slap, pinch, kick, or hit me? Pull my hair? Strangle or choke me?
Touch or kiss me when I don’t want to? Force me to have sex? Not let me use birth control?
Use alcohol or drugs and pressure me to do it too?
Refuse to accept that the relationship isn’t working or is over?

If so you are in an abusive relationship. Talk to a counselor, teacher, parent, friend or another trusted person about your situation. If you know someone in an unhealthy relationship, encourage them to talk to someone. For confidential help you can call the National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline at 1-866-331-9474 or log on to loveisrespect.org.

Dating Bill of Rights

I have the right to refuse a date without feeling guilty.
I can ask for a date without feeling rejected or inadequate if the answer is no.
I do not have to act macho.
I may choose not to act seductively.
If I don’t want physical closeness, I have the right to say so.
I have the right to start a relationship slowly, to say,
"I want to know you better before I become involved.”
I have the right to be myself without changing to suit others.
I have the right to change a relationship when my feelings change. I can say, “We used to be close, but I want something else now.”
If I am told a relationship is changing, I have the right not to blame or change myself to keep it going.
I have the right to an equal relationship with my partner.
I have the right not to dominate or to be dominated.
I have the right to act one way with one person and a different way with someone else.
I have the right to change my goals whenever I want to.
Crime Prevention Council, 1700 K Street, NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20006.

Internet Safety & Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to deliberately harass, threaten, or intimidate someone. Cyberbullying can include such acts as making threats, sending insults, attempting to infect the victim's computer with a virus, and flooding an e-mail inbox with nonsense messages. If you are a victim, you can deal with cyberbullying to some extent by limiting computer connection time (not being always on), not responding to threatening or defamatory messages, and never opening e-mail messages from sources you do not recognize. If you are cyberbullied or harassed and need help, save all communication with the cyberbully and talk to a parent, teacher, law enforcement officer, or other adult you trust. Report Bullying.

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