Family Resources

• Safe2Tell Colorado: 1-877-542-7233 (SAFE) 
• Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention: (719) 573-7447 
• Colorado Crisis & Support Line: 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255
• National Suicide Prevention Line: 1- 800-273-TALK (8255)

• Below are links to helpful documents provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
  • Mental Health Facts
  • Getting The Right Start
  • How To Help A Friend
• Resources:
  • Colorado Crisis Services (24 hour hotline) (844) 493-TALK (8255) or Text TALK to 38255
  • Peak View Behavioral Health (719) 444-8484
  • Crisis Stabilization Unit (Aspen Pointe) (719) 572-6100
  • Cedar Springs Hospital (719) 633-4114
  • Peak Military Care Network (719) 955-0742
  • National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) (719) 473-8477
  • Empower Colorado (866) 213-4631
  • Safe2Tell (877) 542- SAFE (7233)
  • Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention (719) 573-7447

Widefield School District 3 is proud to be partners with Kidpower Colorado. Kidpower offers comprehensive safety education programs in our classrooms and in our community teaching children personal safety and confidence building skills.

• RESOURCES:
  • Safety Tips: Kids walking to and from school
  • Safety Tips: Kids with people they know
  • Bullying: Common questions and answers
  • Helping Children Regain Their Emotional Safety After a Tragedy

For more information on Kidpower, please visit kidpowercs.org

Keeping our students safe is always a top priority for WSD3. Use the resources below to help keep our students safe while online.

• FBI Kids Safety
• Internet Safety Documents Age/Grade appropriate topics regarding Internet safety and digital citizenship.
• NetSmartz
• Safe, Smart, & Social - App Guides for Parents
• Cyberwise
   
• KEEP YOUR DATA AND THE DATA OF OTHERS PRIVATE.
  • Never share your passwords with others (however, parents should know their kids’ passwords).
  • Always logout of computers and online systems you’ve logged into (email, file storage, social media, etc.); closing the browser window is not the same as logging out.
  • While logged in, never leave your computer/device unattended.
  • Do not use unsecured public Wi-Fi networks commonly found at restaurants, airports, and other businesses
  • Do not post information about yourself online (address, phone number, school, pictures, etc.)
     
• PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ONLINE DANGERS AND PREDATORS.
  • Do not communicate online with people you do not know.
  • Never share your name, age, school, address, phone number, pictures or other personal information online.
  • Your online actions and posts are traceable; you are NOT anonymous while online.
  • Ask yourself: “Would I want this information to become known to the public?”
  • Ask yourself: “Would I be doing this if my parents were watching?”
     
• MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BALANCE; LIMIT YOUR TIME SPENT ON COMPUTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
  • Do you frequently find that you have spent more time online than you were planning to spend?
  • Are you online late into the night and then tired?
  • Do you spend time online instead of doing homework, hobbies, chores, physical activities, or spending time with friends or family?
  • Are you always thinking about being online?
  • Do you argue about time limits your parents have set for Internet use? Or use sneaky ways to get around these limits?
     
• HELP PREVENT CYBERBULLYING.
  • Don’t be a cyberbully. People do not “deserve” to be treated badly. It is not “funny.”
  • Don’t become a cyberbully to get back at someone who is bullying you. This will just make the problem worse.
  • If you made a mistake and hurt someone, apologize.
  • Calm down before you respond to someone.
  • DON’T RETALIATE! The bully wants to make you mad. Don’t give the bully a “win.” Being mean back isn’t going to help.
  • Save the evidence and get help from an adult.
     
• BE A GOOD DIGITAL CITIZEN.
  • Use devices and social media websites for good and positive things, not for negative and harmful activities.
  • Abide by all laws and rules.
  • Do not use the works (images, writings, recordings, etc.) of others illegally or without permission.
  • Remember that words can and do hurt others, even when reading them online.
  • Treat others with respect.

Widefield School District 3's number one priority is to keep students safe. In the event of a "stranger danger" incident near our schools we want to provide helpful tips for parents to discuss with their children in an effort to make students aware of such incidents.

• Safety is always best in numbers. Advise your child to walk to and from school with a buddy.
• If your child feels that he or she is being followed, call immediately call 9-1-1.
• Stay more than an arm’s reach from strangers.  If you are approached by a stranger, seek help immediately.
• Advise them to run or walk quickly towards an area where they see people (a school, a business, a shopping center, a home with someone outside, a busy roadway, or a park where they see people.) They should never walk into an alley or location that further isolates them.
• Know your child’s walking/riding path to and from school. Determine a path together that is visible, even if it’s a slightly longer route home.
• Go directly to your destination. Pay attention to where you are going. Talking or texting on your cell phone is a good way to pass the time while you're walking, but it can distract you from noticing what's going on around you.
• Be aware of surroundings - who is behind you and in front of you. Are there occupied cars parked along your route?

Widefield School District 3 partners with Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 and Communities That Care to hold an annual community event as a way to support and educate our community about way to navigate life challenges. Parents and students can attend break-out session on topics related to mental health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The session are student-led with a parent-only session available. This 2019-2020 school year we will be holding the event.

Here is more information:

• Monday, October 28, 2019
• Location: Mesa Ridge High School, 6070 Mesa Ridge Parkway
• Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Food Served at 5:00 PM
  • Event Starts at 5:45

Parents, junior high school, and high school students can attend student-lead breakout sessions based on topics about mental health and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The four sessions are:

1. Digital Kindness
2. Resilience to Stress & Anxiety
3. Healthy Lifestyle
4. Self Harm: Awareness & Prevention

There will be one parent-only session on Digital Safety - Apps & Games. We will also have several organizations providing resources on a variety of mental health and wellness topics.