Take 25 minutes to talk about summer safety
Are students ready for summer vacation?
Arlington ISD superintendent Dr. Matt Smith asked that question at Speer Elementary earlier this month.
“Everybody loves summertime, right?” he asked Speer’s fourth, fifth and sixth graders in their cafetorium.
The response was as expected: loudly in the affirmative.
But Smith wasn’t there just to celebrate the coming of summer. He was there to talk about safety. He joined forces with Arlington Police Chief Al Jones to remind Speer Elementary students to stay safe this summer. It’s part of the annual Take 25 initiative, where parents and guardians are encouraged to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about staying safe. 
“It takes all of us working together to keep all of us safe this summer,” Smith said.
Chief Jones emphasized that being safe starts with the decisions we make.
“It’s about making sure we’re making great decisions,” Jones said. “I learned at an early age that it’s important to make great decisions because the decisions that we make can impact our lives for a long time.”
He and Smith then shared several tips for making good decisions.
› Internet safety
You might expect a summer safety talk to start with park or pool safety, but Jones’ first topic was about the internet. With school out, students may spend more time in front of screens, which present a number of safety challenges.
“When you’re online,” Jones said, “when someone sends you something but you don’t know them, don’t respond.”
Jones encouraged kids to tell parents about those kinds of situations and to be good neighbors online. Avoid cyberbullying and let adults know if they see anyone getting bullied.
› Have a plan
Before families go somewhere like a city park or Six Flags this summer, “you have to have a plan with your parents,” Jones said. “If you get separated from your parents, what do you do?”
He reminded students to look for an adult in uniform.
“I have 739 of those guys in uniform across this city and they want to be partners with you,” Jones said. “They want to make sure you’re safe.”
› Have good friends
Jones encouraged the students to make sure they spend time with good friends, the kinds of friends who will help them make good choices and stay safe.
“It’s about having good friends, friends who are willing to talk to you, willing to help you make great decisions,” Jones said. “Make sure you surround yourself with great people.”
› See something say something
One of the best ways to keep yourself and others safe is to speak up when something isn’t right.
“What do you do if you see something that is wrong or unsafe?” Smith asked the students. “You see something wrong, you say something about it.”
Now it’s your turn
The message that Smith and Jones shared wasn’t just for Speer’s students. It was meant for everyone in Arlington ISD. So, now, it’s your turn. Take 25 minutes with your family to talk about how you all can stay safe this summer.