To assist in ensuring the safety of our students, staff and visitors, camera surveillance equipment will be used for security purposes. This equipment may or may not be monitored at any time. Surveillance cameras will generally be utilized only in public areas where there is no “reasonable expectation of privacy.” Public areas may include school buses; building entrances; hallways; parking lots; front offices where students, employees, and parents/guardians come and go; gymnasiums during public activities; cafeterias; and supply rooms. However, it is not possible for surveillance cameras to cover all public areas of District buildings or all District activities. District surveillance cameras will not be installed in “private” areas such as restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, private offices (unless consent by the office owner is given), or classrooms.
School employees who in the course of employment come into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made when they have reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of medical, professional, or other training and experience, that a child is a victim of child abuse. School employees who suspect child abuse shall immediately notify the administrator and report the suspected child abuse to the designated state agency.
Handle With Care (HWC) supports children exposed to traumatic events through improved communication between law enforcement and schools. A HWC referral will come to schools through the Safe 2 Say system, as a “HWC event”, which means that the child was present during an incident involving law enforcement the night before (as a victim, family member or bystander), may have been exposed to something traumatic and should be “handled with care” in school.
Events like bad car accidents, domestic disputes, overdoses, suicide attempts, medical emergencies or arrests of family members are just some of the police-related incidents where children are often present. Police officers in both Lehigh and Northampton County, as well as State Police departments, are participating in the Handle With Care program. The goal of this program is to give educators an early heads up about a child’s emotional needs so a trauma impacted child can be connected with appropriate supports and interventions to help them feel safe and supported and able to focus on learning.
For more information visit our district website's information page here.
At Whitehall-Coplay School District, ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. To prepare for any emergencies, we conduct monthly safety drills, including fire, severe weather, and other critical scenarios. These drills are essential in equipping our students with the knowledge and readiness needed to respond effectively to potential safety events.
We train all of our students with the Run, Hide, Fight strategy for responding to violent incidents, such as an intruder. This training emphasizes that students should run if it is safe, hide if running is not possible, and fight back only as a last resort. By equipping our students with these options, we aim to enhance their ability to protect themselves and increase their chances of staying safe in critical situations. Additional information on the use of the run, hide, fight protocol can be found here.
1-844-723-2729 (1-844-SAF2SAY)
Safe2Say Something (S2SS) is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize the warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
S2SS works through 5 easy steps:
A tip is submitted via mobile app, website, or by calling the PA based 24/7 Crisis Center.
The tip is then triaged by the Crisis Center to gather enough information to act on it.
The tip is delivered to the impacted school and, as needed, local law enforcement via 911 County Dispatch.
The school and, as needed, local law enforcement assess and intervene with the at-risk individual.
The school then closes out the tip and reports actions taken as a record for their school.
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is designed to assist students who are experiencing academic, social, and/or emotional difficulties in their lives. The goal of SAP is to identify potential barriers that are interfering with a student’s overall well-being and to offer resources and support both in and out of school. The referral process is confidential and any staff member, student, or parent/guardian can complete a simple online referral form found on the high school website or by contacting anyone in the counseling department. Referral forms are available online and can be obtained through the district website. The SAP team is here to help students, not to punish them.
All visitors must show photo ID when they enter the building. Visitors must enter the building through the main entrance lobby to sign in on the visitors log and to obtain a visitor badge. Students are not permitted to bring visitors to the school.
For further information refer to WCSD Board Policy #907.
In accordance with WCSD Board Policy #916, all volunteers and any individual who will have direct contact with students shall complete a volunteer disclosure sheet and be approved by the appropriate administrator. A record of their names and a brief description of the service performed shall be maintained via the visitors log at the building level.