Safety

Protection of our Students

Detroit Catholic Central High School has an uncompromising commitment to a safe environment for all of students. Some of these safe environment elements are:

The Basilian Fathers were one of the first religious congregations in Canada or the US to be accredited by “Praesidium”, a third party, independent safe environment auditing organization. They have made site visitations of all Basilian schools, have interviewed Administrators about safe environment procedures and policies. All Basilians have attended safe environment seminars.
All Catholic Central employees have passed criminal background checks.
All Catholic Central employees have attended “Protecting God’s Children” workshops as mandated by the United States Bishops Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
All Freshmen and Sophomores are required to take "Empowering God's Children", to qualify them for ministry and community service. The program empowers them to speak up and to ensure that their boundaries are respected.
Our school was constructed according to safe environment protocols, e.g. windows in doors, photo-cells to turn on lights in classrooms and other areas, staff and adult visitor restrooms, distinct from student restrooms, in addition, visitors and vendors to the school must be buzzed in, register and wear visitor identification.
Students have access to “Sprigeo” an anonymous reporting service.
Our faculty and staff, working together with our Counseling Department, report on students who are exhibiting symptomatic behaviors of distress.
Faculty and staff review the Michigan standards obligating faculty and counselors as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse on a regular basis.
Adequate numbers of supervisory staff are assigned for school trips.
Yearly, the Dean of Students presents the elements of digital citizenship to our student body as well as our own policies and procedures concerning Cyber Safety and Morality.

This list is not the totality of all the elements put into place, but rather some of the policies, procedures and actions that Catholic Central and the Basilian Fathers have put into place and embraced in order to maintain transparency and a safe learning environment for your son.

Several times a year when the Basilian General Council meets, the rest of the community is asked to dedicate a day to prayer and fasting for all victims of abuse.

In addition to the policies as stated on our Catholic Central website, you may also wish to consult the policies and procedures of Protecting our Children and Youth for the Archdiocese of Detroit as well as a summary of the policies of the Basilian Fathers.

Let us always remember that our faith is in God alone: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As human beings, whether we are priests, parents, single people, brothers or sisters, we are sinners who need constantly to refocus our attention on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. May the entire CC community continue to invoke the patronage and protection Mary Alma Mater, that her Son may continue to make our school community place one of abundant blessings for your sons and all of us.

Cyber Safety and Morality

Internet Activities

Use the internet to your advantage, for your education. This is easier than it sounds: you need to be able to access good and healthy sites while avoiding dangerous, inappropriate or immoral ones. When participating in social networking sites such as twitter and facebook, present yourself in a careful yet sincere manner, so that the average person reading what you post and looking at the images you make available will recognize you to be a man of integrity who makes wise choices based on your faith in Jesus.
Strangers will look you up and look up what you are doing on the internet. You are a representative of your family, your Church and your school. Bring pride to each of these important aspects of your life.
When participating in social networking when there is a rivalry between teams or schools, don't let your emotions get the best of you. Think before you post. Remember Mr. Hancock's advice: never post anything you don't want your grandma to see.
Never give your personal information out when strangers have access to it, especially your address, your phone number, your personal schedule of where you will be and when.
Respect all people, whether you know them or not. Keep all chat positive. Be careful about "kidding" and "joking". Not everyone will see it as kidding and/or joking.
Never threaten anyone for any reason, even in jest.
Remember that you can report any serious incident of bullying anonymously via Sprigeo
Make sure your language is appropriate and respectful.
Never assume if you are chatting with a stranger that they are who they say they are. It is better to avoid interactions with people you do not know.

iPad/Cell Phone/Tablet and Laptop Activities

Do not take pictures or video of people without their permission.
Never take a picture or a video of a teacher without their explicit permission.
Do not record class (audio or video) without the teacher’s explicit permission.
DO! With permission: take pictures of the class notes on the board.
DO! Use your camera for class projects, i.e. nature/trees for biology class when deemed appropriate by your teacher.
Never encourage or coerce anyone into sending you an inappropriate picture – you could be held legally responsible. Never pose for an inappropriate picture or appear in front of a camera (via facetime, skype, cell phone, etc.). A 5-second mistake in this arena could haunt you for the rest of your life.
If you receive an inappropriate image, never forward it to anyone (you could be legally responsible) and make sure you inform a responsible adult immediately.
Remember that images sent via apps such as snapchat, kik, etc., give you the false impression that the photo cannot be saved and that only one person will see it for a matter of seconds. That image can still be saved forever.

Basic Reminders for Parents

Dialogue with your son on a regular basis on matters of appropriate internet and cellphone use.
"Befriend" or "follow" your son on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
Have your son explain the apps that he has on his iPad, cell phone, tablet or laptop.
Consider shutting down the wireless in your home at a specific time every evening. Some systems have timers where this can be done automatically.
Have a designated place where your son can recharge his iPad during the night.
Consider having a filtering or internet monitoring service for internet use in your home. (There is a strong filtering service at school)
Remember that when you were your son’s age, you didn’t have to face such intense decisions on such a regular basis. Be patient and guide your son in a loving manner, yet set expectations that are based on our religious values.

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