The Chilliwack School District and community partners are committed to making our schools safe for students and staff. As a result, schools will respond to all student behaviours that pose a potential risk to themselves, other students, staff, and members of the community.

Student Threat Assessment Protocol:  FAIR NOTICE

What behaviours initiate a student threat assessment?

A student threat assessment will be initiated when behaviours include, but are not limited to, serious violence or violence with intent to harm, or kill, verbal/written threats to harm/kill others, Internet website/MSN threats to harm/kill others, possession of weapons (including replicas), bomb threats and fire setting.

Duty to report

To keep school communities safe and caring, staff, parents, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviours.

What is a threat?

A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, posted on the Internet or made by gesture. Threats must be taken seriously, investigated and responded to.

What is a Threat Assessment Team?

Each school has a Threat Assessment Team which is multi-disciplinary. The team may include Principal, Vice-Principal, District Resource Reacher, School Counsellor and Police.

What is the purpose of a student threat assessment?

• The purposes of a student threat assessment are:
• To ensure the safety of students, staff, parents and others.
• To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat.
• To understand factors contributing to the threat makers’ behavior.
• To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and
• physical safety of the threat maker.
• To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.

 What happens in a student threat assessment?

All threat making behavior by a student shall be reported to the Principal who will activate the protocol for the initial response. Once the team has been activated, interviews may be held with the student(s), the threat maker, parents and staff to determine the level of risk and develop and appropriate response to the incident. Intervention plans will be developed and shared with parents, staff and students as required.

Can I refuse to participate in a threat assessment process?

It is important for all parties to engage in the process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the threat maker or parent/guardian, the threat assessment process will continue in order to promote a safe and caring learning environment.