Back-to-School Safety Reminders, Resources

Today we're sharing safety reminders so that students, staff, families and community members know what to expect and where to find resources and information to help keep our students safe in and out of school all year long.

Safety Concerns

If you have an urgent concern, believe a crime was committed or want to report suspicious activity, please call 911. If you have a less urgent safety concern, you can report it on our website. The same page of the website also has the option for students or families to report harassment, intimidation or bullying. Safety Concern Report

Please include the name of the school and as many details as possible, so that our staff members can investigate and/or respond appropriately.

 

Counseling and Student Well-Being

ISD provides comprehensive guidance and school counseling services in each building. All students have access to and the right to participate in these programs, which focus on academic, career, and social/emotional development to enhance the learning process, provide access to education, and support student readiness and success. Visit our Counseling and Student Well-Being page for resources and information.

Suicide prevention is a shared responsibility, and family members, caregivers, schools and communities can help by building supportive relationships, encouraging healthy coping skills and connecting people with appropriate care. Follow the LEARN steps: Look for warning signs of emotional distress, Empathize and listen without judgment, Ask directly and calmly about suicide, Remove access to weapons, medications or other potential means of self-harm, and take the Next steps to connect the person with immediate support. Warning signs and risk factors can vary, and not everyone experiencing suicidal thoughts will show the same signs.

If someone says they are thinking about suicide, take the concern seriously, do not promise to keep it secret and do not leave someone in imminent danger alone. Help connect them with a trusted adult, mental health professional, crisis service or emergency care, and call 911 in an immediate emergency. Students can also reach out to a parent or caregiver, trusted school staff member or another trusted adult; Issaquah School District’s Submit a Tip system is available for reporting concerns, but it is not an immediate-response service.

Experiencing a crisis? Please contact one of the following helplines:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• King County local 24/7 Crisis Line (suicide, mental health, substance use): 866-427-4747
• (866-4CRISIS)
• Crisis Text Line: text “Heal” to 741-741
• Trevor Project (specifically for the LGBTQ+ community): 1-866-488-7386

Care Solace: Mental Health and Substance Use Support

In addition to digital safety, ISD has partnered with Care Solace – a central hub that connects students, staff and families to care. At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available providers for mental health and substance abuse, matched to your needs.

How to Access Support:

• Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support available 24/7/365)
• Visit the Care Solace website
• Search for providers independently or click “Book Appointment” for live assistance via video chat, phone, or email.
   

Transportation Reminders

Bus Transportation

What to expect in the first few weeks of school: The first few weeks of school, some of our buses will be very full. If a bus is at capacity when it arrives at your student’s bus stop, the driver will notify Transportation and send an overflow bus to the stop to pick up additional students. Please have your student remain at the stop and wait for the overflow bus to arrive. We request patience for the first few weeks of school, as we will continue to update routes to accommodate riders. Check “E-link” daily for the first few weeks to view up-to-date route information for your student. Remember: Please have your student at their stop five minutes before their bus stop time.

Parking Lot Safety

Please drive slowly and safely in our parking lots (and on the way to and from school). If you have a teenager who drives to school, please remind them how they can stay safe and help keep others safe while driving. Watch for students who use the crosswalks and for those who may not remember to look for vehicles. Please do not text while driving. And, please ensure that everyone in the vehicle is wearing their seatbelt or safely buckled into their car seats or booster seats whenever your vehicle is moving.

Walking and Biking Safely

For students and families who walk or ride bikes (bicycles, E-bikes or scooters) to and from school, please remember to walk in groups of two or more. Keep your eyes up and on what's happening around you, not looking down at your phone or other device. Don't use headphones while walking or riding. be sure you can hear what is happening around you. Students should be sure to never accept anything from strangers, including items or rides, and to report anything suspicious to an adult they trust. When crossing a street or crosswalk, use caution and check to make sure approaching vehicles see you before you step into the roadway. For younger students, practice your name, address, phone number and who to call in case of an emergency. Remind students how and when to use 911.

• The City of Issaquah shares information about E-bikes and E-motorcycles on its website, including a video featuring a cameo appearance from the Sasquatch.
• The City of Sammamish shares information about E-bikes and E-motorcycles on its website.
• Skyline High School student Divisha Arora founded "Know Your Ride" to help share facts and safety information about E-Bikes, and to help keep students and families safe. Visit the website for links to resources and information from official sources such as Washington laws, Washington State Department of Transportation and more.
   

Water Safety

Every year when the weather is warm, we share water safety reminders with students, families, staff and our community. This past year, former Skyline student Mudra Machewad founded the LakeSafe Initiative to call for increased water safety awareness, and for all community members to work together to ensure families know how to stay safe when swimming and boating. Machewad is working with other youth, as well as cities, counties, partner organizations and others to help spread facts and information, and put programming in place to improve safety. Among other efforts, they are working to increase clear signage, increase access to life jackets, increase community education and more.

 

Digital Safety Reminders

Gaggle: Enhancing Digital Safety

As part of our ongoing commitment to promote a safe learning environment, ISD has long partnered with "Gaggle," a software monitoring system that promotes student safety and responsible digital citizenship.

What is Gaggle?
Gaggle is an innovative platform designed to monitor and filter digital content within our school’s online environment.

Key Features of Gaggle:

• Content Check: Gaggle monitors and flags content in students’ school-issued accounts for potentially harmful content including cyberbullying, violence and potential self-harm.
• School Response: During school hours, ISD support staff is promptly notified of flagged concerns. Our administrators check in with students, provide support, and connect with parents/caregivers when appropriate.
• 24/7 Monitoring: Gaggle representatives operate around the clock. Outside of school hours (weekends/holidays), urgent concerns involving student safety may be directed to local officials for timely intervention.

This partnership ensures we can address emerging issues quickly and effectively to prioritize student well-being.

Additional Resources for Digital Safety

For information and resources to help keep your student safe online, visit our Technology Safety webpage.