October is Bullying Prevention month and Kentucky Safe Schools Week is set for Oct. 20–26.

This year’s theme for Kentucky Safe Schools Week is “Our Safety Story!” and the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS) stands on the belief that everybody should enjoy school equally and be treated with respect. Community members, educators, students and parents are encouraged to get involved during Kentucky Safe Schools Week.

KCSS is encouraging all Kentucky schools to take this opportunity to promote positive behaviors and encourage social and emotional wellness by taking the Kentucky Safe Schools Week Pledge, and using the resources available on the KCSS website.

During Safe Schools Week (and throughout the year) the KCSS website supplies a variety of teaching aids along with the online Our Safety Story pledge. The website features a Kentucky Safe Schools Week Tool Kit loaded with resources such as daily announcements, activity pages, PowerPoint presentations, lessons, videos, scenarios and interactive websites. Resources also are available for school administrators, parents and community members.

The Kentucky “Our Safety Story!” campaign is sponsored by the Kentucky Center for School Safety. This observance coincides with the national campaign. America’s Safe Schools Week is sponsored by the National School Safety Center.

“I encourage all Kentuckians to get involved and nurture kindness, unity and empathy across our Commonwealth and in our schools,” said Jon Akers, executive director of the KCSS. “Teaching tolerance and modeling kindness in our everyday lives will help build the safe communities and schools of tomorrow. Joining together, we can make ‘Our Safety Story’ phenomenal.”