Provided by Prince William County Schools (PWCS)
Whenever there is a concern about a friend’s well-being, students are encouraged to know and follow the three cautionary suggestions below. Parents are asked to review with their children the need to settle arguments without resorting to violence and to call the School Division tip line, 703.791.2821, to report threats or suspicious activity anonymously. If a young person talks about hurting himself/herself or someone else, it’s important to act.
- Listen carefully;
- Don’t ignore threats; and
- Care enough to tell a trusted adult.
The tip line is part of a voice mail system which does not provide an immediate response. Recorded messages are retrieved four times daily. Calls that require immediate action should be directed to school personnel or the police and not to the voice mail tip line.
Callers are greeted by a recorded message and are asked to state the information they wish to report. Tip line callers may remain anonymous, but they are asked to provide as much specific information as possible. This information is then forwarded to appropriate school staff for follow up.
“Our schools are safe in large part because of the proactive safety measures already in place and because most of our students take responsibility to behave appropriately. Together, we can continue to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Steve Walts.
PWCS implemented the tip line in 1993. The tip line number is included in student handbooks, the student “Code of Behavior,” school newsletters, in student agendas, and on school posters.
