WMS Safe School Ambassadors present at BOE meeting

WMS Safe School Ambassadors present at BOE meeting

Members of the Washingtonville Middle School Safe School Ambassadors program attended Thursday night’s Washingtonville Board of Education meeting to speak about their newly instituted initiative. Safe School Ambassadors (SSA) was developed to help students prevent bullying, mistreatment and other harmful behaviors among peers. 

SSA members explained that the program is effective because students often hear and see things that adults don’t. Therefore they are able to intervene and assist with defusing problems that may arise. 

Earlier in the school year SSA members participated in a two-day training where they participated in team-building activities, learned the five forms of mistreatment, brainstormed possible solutions, and learned the five ambassador actions. 

Not only does SSA help encourage leadership and team-building but it also reinforces the core values of the Washingtonville Central School District mission to continue to build community connections. By participating in SSA, members have the ability to help create a safe environment for their peers where everyone feels welcome. 

The SSA program also has a family group for each grade. Family groups are spearheaded by advisors at WMS and meet to check in with ambassadors and help them feel complete and ready to re-enter campus life.

“I am really, really proud of their leadership,” said WMS Principal Teresa Thompson. “We currently have 42 members through all grade levels and we will continue to develop the program through the course of the year. Our eighth graders who are moving on to the high school have expressed that they wish to continue to participate in the SSA program, which shows that they all desire to improve their school environment and make it a place everyone wants to be.”

group of students standing at the front of an auditorium
group of student standing at the front of auditorium