The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) recognizes that all members of the school community have the right to be safe and feel safe in their school community.

Under certain conditions, students may undergo a “Threat Risk Assessment”. This assessment helps to promote safety and well-being for all.

What behaviours initiate a Threat Risk Assessment?

A student threat risk assessment will be initiated when behaviours include, but are not limited to:

  • Serious violence with the intent to kill or harm
  • Verbal/written threats to kill or seriously harm others (clear, direct and plausible)
  • Internet/website threats to seriously harm or kill others
  • Possession of weapons, including replicas
  • Bomb threats (making and/or detonating explosive devices)
  • Fire setting
  • Sexual intimidation or assault
  • Gang related intimidation and violence
  • Significant worrisome behaviour

Initiation of a Threat Risk Assessment may occur depending on the context of the incident or worrisome behaviour.

Duty to Report

To keep our school communities safe, all stakeholders must report all threat related behaviours. In the Waterloo Region District School Board, our policy on threats is that we have… “Zero tolerance for NOT REPORTING serious acts or threats of violence.”

What is a Threat Risk Assessment Team?

Each school has a multi-disciplinary team related to Threat Risk Assessment. The team consists of an administrator, a police officer, a school support person (psychologist, social worker, guidance counsellor or CYW) and additional people that may include community resources.

What is the purpose of a Threat Risk Assessment?

  • To ensure the safety of students, staff and parents
  • To understand, based on the data gathered, the factors which contribute to the threat maker’s behaviour
  • To develop an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the threat maker and others

What is the process?

  • All threat making behaviours are reported to a school administrator who may activate the protocol
  • A team is formed and team members will gather relevant data
  • Information will be obtained from multiple sources which may include but not limited to:
    • teachers, students, targets, threat makers,
    • parents/caregivers
    • current and previous school records
    • police services
    • support groups/agencies
    • online sites – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.
    • locker and backpack search, bedroom search
  • A comprehensive intervention plan will be developed

* All Waterloo Region DSB policies and procedures align with the Safe Schools Act.

* The model presented in this document reflects the work of Kevin Cameron, Director for the Canadian Centre for Threat and Risk Assessment.

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