The Surrey School District offers numerous prevention/intervention programs and resource materials to enhance student and staff safety. They include:
• The Wraparound Program
The Surrey Wraparound Program (Wrap) is a partnership between the Surrey School District, RCMP and the City of Surrey for youth who are at risk for gang-associated behaviour.
The program’s objective is to positively attach youth to school, their community and the home by building trusting, positive relationships.
Parents, caregivers and/or guardians are included in goal-setting while assisting the program’s objective in building a positive lifestyle and self-worth for youth.
• Alternative Suspension
The Alternative Suspension/iR3 program is an intensive session designed to promote social skills and self-worth, improve motivation and personal development.
A partnership between Surrey Schools and the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, and combining the expertise and experience of both iR3 and the national YMCA program, the program is based at the Tong Louie Family YMCA.
Students split their time between conventional academic studies and social/emotional workshops aimed at getting to the root causes of their negative behaviour.
• Surrey Appreciates ME (SAME)
The objective of Surrey Appreciates ME or SAME is to honour, embrace and promote diversity. Designed to provide education, support and direct intervention as needed to students, parents, families, peers and members of the broader community, SAME works to build bridges and promote greater cross-cultural understanding through social and cultural integration activities, student mentorship, leadership and volunteerism.
• Diverse Youth Gang
The Diverse Youth Gang prevention program is for youth that are considered a high risk for gang/criminal involvement, based on Surrey RCMP and Surrey School District data.
An individual case management plan is created for each youth and supported by a dedicated staff member. Diverse Youth Gang also provides targeted education and prevention programming to selected school communities.
A 24-session training program is provided to elementary youth to help them build self-esteem, refusal skills, decision-making skills, self-regulation, leadership development and attachment to healthy recreational activities, peers, and adults.
The students in each classroom then use their newly acquired skills to plan, develop, and deliver a parent forum on youth gang prevention at their elementary school.
• PSST (Protecting Surrey Schools Together)
PSST is a website (www.psst-bc.ca ) designed by Surrey School District in partnership with the Surrey RCMP and sponsored by the BC Lions. The site is for students who want to discuss school safety but want to remain anonymous. It includes an online “REPORT IT” tip box that allows students to confidentially report dangerous or illegal activity other issues happening at their schools or in their community.
For more information, call 604-596-7733.