Our goal is to keep families informed and engaged in the ongoing efforts to maintain safe and supportive schools. We will share important safety updates, helpful resources, and practical tips to help keep our school community informed, prepared, and connected. In this issue, we will share information about concussion protocols, the latest online threat to our children, and other resources.
Because school safety is a partnership, and we're stronger together!
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Keeping our students safe and healthy is a shared responsibility between home and school. Concussions can happen during sports, playground activities, or everyday accidents, and knowing what to look for can make a difference. Because symptoms can develop hours or even days after an injury, it's important to pay attention to any changes in how your child feels or acts.
Communication between home and school is especially important. Please notify your child's school nurse if your child has experienced a concussion, even if the injury happened outside of school. By staying informed and working together, we can help ensure students receive the support they need to safely return to learning and physical activities.
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A concussion can result from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and symptoms may not always appear right away. Common signs include:
- headaches
- dizziness
- nausea
- blurred vision
- confusion
- difficulty concentrating
- unusual tiredness
- changes in mood and behavior.
Children may also seem dazed, respond more slowly than usual, or have trouble remembering things. If you suspect a concussion, seek medical evaluation and watch for worsening symptoms that may require immediate medical attention.
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A growing online safety concern parents need to know about
As parents, we talk with our children about online predators, bullying, and internet safety. But there is another serious online threat parents need to know about: a group known as 764.
764 is a network of people who use the internet to target, manipulate, and exploit children and teens. These individuals often promote violence, self-harm, and destructive behavior. They look for vulnerable young people and use fear, threats, and manipulation to pressure them into doing harmful things.
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How are children targeted?
These individuals often find children through social media, online games, and chat apps. Platforms such as Roblox, Discord, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and other gaming chats are sometimes used to contact and target young people. They may pretend to be friends, offer attention, and gain a child's trust. Once they have that trust, they may use threats, bullying, or blackmail to control them. Children may be pressured to share private photos, hurt themselves or others, or do other harmful things. They may also be threatened with having personal information or photos shared if they don't cooperate.
This is more than online bullying. It is a serious form of online abuse that can put children in real danger.
Warning signs parents should recognize
There is no single sign that indicates a child is being targeted, but parents should pay attention to sudden or unexplained changes, including:
- Becoming unusually withdrawn, anxious, irritable, or secretive.
- Spending excessive time communicating with a new online friend or group, or appearing unusually frightened of someone they met online.
- Changes in sleeping, eating, hygiene, or daily routines.
- Withdrawing from friends, family, school, or previously enjoyed activities.
- Unexplained injuries, cuts, scratches, burns, or unusual marks.
- Becoming distressed when receiving messages or notifications.
- Receiving unexpected gifts, money, or online gaming currency.
- Expressing hopelessness, talking about death or suicide, or making statements that suggest they feel trapped.
- Showing an unusual fascination with graphic violence, self-harm, or mass casualty events.
What should parents do if they suspect their child is a victim?
The most important thing is to stay calm and make sure your child knows they are safe, loved, and not in trouble. Children may feel embarrassed, ashamed, frightened, or convinced that they will be blamed for what happened. Reassure them that the responsibility belongs to the person exploiting them.
Parents should:
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Listen without judgment. Let your child talk at their own pace. Avoid anger, blame, or punishment for what they may have shared online.
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Preserve evidence. Save messages, usernames, account information, phone numbers, links, and screenshots. Do not delete conversations or accounts before documenting relevant evidence. Do not download, forward, or redistribute sexual images of minors.
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Report the activity. Contact local law enforcement and report suspected child exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at CyberTipline.org. You can also report suspected federal crimes to the FBI at IC3.gov.
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Secure online accounts. Review privacy settings, change compromised passwords, enable multifactor authentication, and block or restrict contact with suspected perpetrators when it is safe to do so. Avoid confronting the suspected offender.
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Seek professional support. Consider a mental health professional experienced in childhood trauma and onl
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NAMI DuPage is proud to partner with the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families by bringing families and professionals free access to nationally recognized experts who provide practical, research-based guidance on today’s most important topics. These interactive, in-person sessions are designed for active participation, and questions are welcome throughout. Visit this link for more information about dates, times, and registration.
All attendees will receive take-home resources and educational handouts. All presentations will be held in-person at 117 N. County Farm Rd. in Wheaton and run concurrently with the Teen Connection group. Information on Teen Connection can be found HERE.
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Safe2Help Illinois is a free, confidential, 24/7 resource that allows students to report concerns about bullying, mental health struggles, threats of violence, or other school safety issues involving themselves or others. Reports can be submitted by phone, text, website, or the free mobile app. The goal is to encourage students to "Seek Help Before Harm" and ensure concerns are shared with those who can help. We encourage families to talk with their students about recognizing concerns and speaking up when something doesn't feel right.
How to Report:
- Text: SAFE2 to 72332
- Call: 844-4-SAFEIL (723345)
- Online: www.Safe2HelpIL.com
- Download the Safe2Help Illinois app
If there is an immediate emergency, always call 911.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Kim Lohse, Deputy Superintendent, at klohse@asd4.org. |
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