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Fair Notice

Student Threat Assessment Protocol

The Abbotsford School District is committed to creating and maintaining safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for all students, staff, and families. Ensuring school safety is a shared responsibility - one that involves students, parents/guardians, staff, and community partners. 

As part of this commitment, and in partnership with the Abbotsford Police Department, we follow a Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Protocol. This protocol is designed to respond to any behaviours that pose a potential threat to the safety and well-being of our school community. 

What is a Threat? 

A threat is any expression of intent to harm oneself or others. It may be spoken, written, drawn, posted online, or communicated through gestures or actions. All threats are taken seriously. 

Duty to Report 

If a student, staff member, or community member becomes aware of threatening behaviour, they are expected to report it. Early reporting helps us intervene before a situation escalates and ensures support for everyone involved. 

What Happens When a Threat is Reported? 

A school-based threat assessment team, comprised of trained professionals, will investigate and determine the level of risk. As part of this process: 

  • Information may be gathered from a variety of sources, including students, staff, parents/guardians, and law enforcement. 

  • Parents/guardians will be notified and may be asked to attend a meeting. 

  • An intervention plan will be developed to ensure the safety of the individual(s) involved and the broader school community. 

The goal of any threat assessment is always safety, not punishment. The process helps us understand what led to the behaviour and what supports may be needed to help the student. 

Protecting Privacy 

Any information gathered through this process is handled with the utmost care and in accordance with privacy laws.