Safe schools: News wrap up

Concerned about substance abuse? The Substance Abuse Coalition of Douglas County will host a Substance Abuse Resource Fair from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Rock Canyon High School, at 5810 McArthur Ranch Road in Highlands Ranch. More than 40 vendors representing agencies and groups in the Douglas County area will be on hand with information regarding resources, prevention and education services. DCSD representatives will be available to provide parents and the community information regarding district policies on medical marijuana and the social norms prevention project. According to the DCSD’s Social Norms surveys, DCSD secondary students engage in less risk-taking behaviors than the national averages. However, DCSD wants to ensure all students receive the support they need to be substance-free. For more information, see the EdNews Parent resource page.

More creepy uses of Facebook 7News reports on a Facebook user posing as Columbine killer Eric Harris attempting to “friend” several former Columbine students who attended the school when the shooting happened. The user’s profile features disturbing images of Harris wielding guns, according to the 7News report. In a statement to the TV station, Facebook spokesman Simon Axten said: “Facebook has always been based on a real name culture. This leads to greater accountability and a safer and more trusted environment for the people who use our service. It’s a violation of our policies to use a fake name or operate under a false identity, and we encourage people to report anyone they think is doing this.” The page has since been disabled, but 7News discovered other similar pages remaining on Facebook. This is yet another reason to keep an eye on even the most mainstream social networking tools. Start with this EdNews Parent Ask an Expert response to a question about keeping a teen safe on Facebook.

Bizarre behavior by a charter school sub CBS4 Denver reported a story about a substitute teacher being banned from Manny Martinez Middle School after allegedly making inappropriate or lewd comments, attempting to lock students in a classroom and photographing students. The news outlet reported that Denver police are investigating the claims made by students at the school.  A school spokesman said the substitute admitted to breaking a rule but the spokesman declined to comment further. CBS4 reported that the teacher was a temporary staff member employed by Kelly Services.

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