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Safety is a Superpower: NHA Schools Celebrate Safe Schools Week

NHA Communications Team  |  October 31, 2024
National Heritage Academies (NHA) schools participated in Safe Schools Week Oct. 14-25. The week was full of activities and information for schools, students, staff, and their communities, practicing and learning about school safety. This year’s theme was “Safety is a Superpower.”

"Safety is always one of our top priorities at NHA, and we love to see all of our schools showing their commitment to a safe school environment,” said NHA’s Director of Safety and Health Brian Gard. “This year's theme, Safety is a Superpower, shows how everyone can be a superhero when we focus on safety.”

Participation in Safe Schools Week is one of the elements required to earn a Safety Eagle Award. School safety specialists and their committees are very creative in the types of events they organize and the materials they create.

“Thank you to the school safety specialists and their teams for putting in time and effort to create engaging activities for our students to participate in,” Gard said.

Several schools are highlighted below for their efforts during Safe Schools Week.

Brooklyn Scholars Charter School

The New York Police Department met with students at Brooklyn Scholars as a part of their Stop Gun Violence initiative and detective Tanya Duhaney spoke about firearm safety and ways scholars can help end gun violence in their community. Detective Duhaney also handed out junior police badges to scholars on her visit.

Brooklyn Dreams Charter School, Forsyth Academy, Fortis Academy, Oakside Prep, Peak Charter Academy, and Timberland Charter Academy

Scholars from various schools made thank you cards for local police and fire departments, as well as to first responders in their community. These local partners help us maintain a safe school environment, and scholars were happy to make handmade cards to express their gratitude.

K-8 School in Muskegon: Timberland Principal gives thank you cards to Muskegon PD.
Timberland principal Dr. Berretta Herard (middle) gives thank you cards to the Muskegon Township Police Department.

Aspire Charter Academy, Buffalo United Charter School, Cross Creek Charter Academy, East Arbor Charter Academy, Great Oaks Academy, Greensboro Academy, PreEminent Charter School, Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy, Quest Charter Academy, Ridge Park Charter Academy, South Arbor Charter Academy, South Pointe Scholars, and Windemere Park Charter Academy

Scholars at various schools visited with local fire departments and got a close-up look at fire trucks and firefighter equipment. Firefighters spoke about maintaining a safe environment and how to be prepared for any fire emergency.

K-8 School in Warren: Warren Fire Dept. reads to Great Oaks students during Safe Schools Week.
A member of the Warren Fire Department reads to scholars at Great Oaks Academy while visiting the school for Safe Schools Week.

K-8 School in Mount Clemens: Prevail students point to "Safety is a Superpower" poster during Safe Schools Week.
Scholars at Prevail Academy point to a poster for Safe Schools Week. This year’s them is Safety is a Superpower.


Safety Man speaks with scholars at Summerfield Charter Academy for Safe Schools Week.

Canton Charter Academy

Some of Canton’s youngest scholars expressed their gratitude for first responders by making thank you cards. The Canton Police Department and Fire Department gave scholars a presentation and put principal Jennifer Conley in a firefighter’s shoes, literally. After Principal Conley donned a full fire suit, scholars did a walkthrough of a fire truck.

K-8 School in Canton: Canton Charter Principal puts on fireman's suit at Safe Schools Week assembly.
Canton Charter Academy Principal Jennifer Conley puts on a full fire suit during the Canton Fire Department’s presentation to the school.

Detroit Premier Academy and Paragon Charter Academy

Scholars at Detroit Premier and Paragon learned about OK2SAY, which is Michigan’s anonymous tipline to report information on any potential harm or criminal activities directed at students or their school. Tiplines like OK2SAY are critical in helping maintain a safe school environment.

Excel Charter Academy

Scholars at Excel had a special visitor greeting them during Safe Schools Week. Grand Rapids Police Department Officer Bernardo showed a smiling face to students arriving for the day before reading to various classes. Excel scholars also wrote thank you notes to the GRPD, thanking them for the hard work they do in keeping the community safe.

K-8 School in Grands Rapids: GRPD Officer speaks to students at Excel during Safe Schools week.
Grand Rapids Police Department Officer Bernardo reads to scholars during their visit to Excel as a part of Safe Schools Week.

Gate City Charter Academy

Scholars at Gate City were focused on fire safety throughout Safe Schools Week. Third-graders participated in interactive fire safety drills and even created a book about the topic called “Fire Safety Rockstars.” First-grade students colored in drawings of firefighters and gave them to local firefighters.

Keystone Academy

Keystone scholars met with officials from the Sumpter Police Department and the Dearborn Fire Department to learn about maintaining a safe community. Lower elementary students created a song about respecting boundaries and keeping themselves safe, and art students created safety posters.

Matthews Charter Academy

Matthews took time during Safe Schools Week to practice room clear and hold drills. The school also welcomed Mecklenberg County Deputy Fire Marshal Christopher Lawrence. He spoke with students about fire safety and went over the school’s fire evacuation plan with third and sixth graders.

K-8 School in Matthews: Fire Marshall talks to Matthews students during Safe Schools Week.
Mecklenberg County Deputy Fire Marshal Christopher Lawrence speaks with students at Matthews about fire safety during Safe Schools Week.

Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy

Scholars at Regent Park had a front row seat for a demonstration of the Detroit Police Department’s aviation unit, which shut down 7 Mile for a helicopter landing. City of Detroit Fire Department Chief James Harris spoke with students about how they can prioritize safety. The school also did a variety of safety drills throughout the week.

K-8 School in Detroit: Regent Park students see how DPD uses helicopters during Safe Schools Week.
Regent Park scholars got an up-close look at how the Detroit Police Department’s aviation unit uses a helicopter in their work. 7 Mile was closed off for scholars to see this display.

K-8 School in Detroit: DFD speaks with Regent Park students during Safe Schools Week.
City of Detroit Fire Department Chief James Harris speaks with students at Regent Park Scholars about how they can prioritize safety.


Riverton Street Charter School

Riverton scholars met with a local activist group to speak with scholars and their families about youth violence and crisis management. Parents continued to get involved, lending a hand at morning arrival, and eighth-grade students led the way, reading safety books to younger students. Staff members were recertified in CPR, and the school practiced drills throughout Safe Schools Week.

South Canton Scholars

South Canton scholars met with local officials throughout Safe Schools Week. The Canton Fire Department gave a presentation at an assembly, showing off the different equipment and vehicles they use when assisting their community. The Canton Police Department also spoke at an assembly and answered student questions. Officer Thompson with Canton PD met with scholars as a part of the organization’s TEAM (Teaching, Educating, and Mentoring) program. Scholars got in on the fun with Dress Like a Superhero Day and even made safety posters.

Triumph Academy

Scholars at Triumph got a lesson in online safety and their parents attended a meeting about online safety, too. The school worked with local law enforcement to improve their reunification plan and celebrated with a “highlight safety” dress down day, wearing different colors representing a different kind of safety. Eighth-grade students were tasked with creating and giving safety presentations to younger scholars.

K-8 School in Monroe: Triumph staff dress up during Safe Schools Week.
Staff at Triumph Academy get in the safety spirit for Safe Schools Week.

Vanguard Charter Academy

Vanguard practiced what to do in the event of a fire with a fire drill, but they put a little twist on the exercise. School leaders put up fake fires around the school to reroute classes evacuating from the school, giving everyone a real-life glimpse of how to adjust during an unplanned evacuation. The Wyoming Police Department visited with scholars and spoke to them about safely interacting with strangers and gave a tour of a police car.


About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.

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