Prevention, Safety, and Security

New Trier's Four Layers of Prevention, Safety, & Security

New Trier firmly believes in a balanced and collaborative approach to building safe learning communities. We seek to create welcoming and safe spaces that enhance and support an environment of open inquiry and student development. New Trier's approach to Safety & Security, New Trier's dedicated faculty and staff deliver these programs and provide mentorship, connection, support, and a sense of belonging to our students.

New Trier has Four Layers of Prevention, Safety, & Security as seen in the appropriate sections below.

Four Layers of Prevention, Safety, and Security

Layer 1: Connection, Support and Prevention

Connection, Support, and Prevention

New Trier recognizes the importance of a supportive environment where adolescents can explore their values, goals, and identity, helping them build resilience and confidence. When they feel valued, they develop a sense of autonomy that encourages positive choices and a strong sense of self.

This recognition also helps them understand their place in the world, feel safe, and respected. Opportunities like leadership roles, sports, and extracurriculars allow them to develop skills and interests, empowering them to thrive.

Layer 2: Community Partners

Layer 3: Physical Safety Measures & Daily Procedures

Physical Safety Measures & Daily Procedures

While New Trier’s core focus in our Security Strategy is fostering connections, support, and belonging for each student, our safety measures, systems, and procedures also help manage risks. Securing the building perimeter with Security Staff who check student and visitor IDs is essential for campus safety.

In response to potential threats, our Threat Assessment Team—including Administrators, Advisers, Social Workers, Security, and others—works proactively and collaboratively. Additionally, a School Resource Officer is onsite daily at each campus to support coordination with police.

Physical Safety Measures and Daily Procedures

Layer 4: Emergency Procedures & Readiness

Emergency Procedures and Readiness

Emergency Response Leaders have actively planned for and trained on improved safety processes, such as the Standard Response Protocol from the I Love U Guys Foundation. The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s programs for crisis response and post-crisis reunification are used in more than 50,000 schools, districts, departments, agencies, organizations and communities around the world. They are created through the research-based best practices of school administrators, psychologists, public space safety experts, families, and first responders.

This year New Trier also engaged with the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) to upgrade our safety planning by creating a standardized Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The EOP is based on the National Incident Management System used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Throughout the year, Physical Plant, Security, and Technology leaders meet every Tuesday to review the Emergency Operations Plan and to plan for improvements to New Trier's safety procedures and systems. A Safety Committee also meets quarterly with critical stakeholders (teachers, staff, parents, and student representatives) to discuss and disseminate feedback on our current safety measures.

Letter to Families

New Trier’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP)

The SRP is a uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. It is an all hazards response plan of 5 actions and directives. The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety.

The SRP’s development is ever-evolving, created with extensive collaboration between experts such as first responders, public safety, school, districts, and communities. Its tactics are data-driven, researched and based on experience and contemporary practices.

Emergency Alert Notification

To receive emergency communications, please verify, add, or update the cell phone numbers we have on file for you and your student(s):

Log into PowerSchool Student / Parent Portal
Click on “Forms” from the left-side navigation bar.
To update a student cell phone number - Locate the "Student Cell Phone Verification Form" and click on it.
To update parent/guardian information, locate “Update Parent/Guardian Information” and click on it.
Update the forms as necessary and click on Submit.

We will send a test message to students and parents on November 1st between 8:15 A.M. and 8:45 A.M. The test notification will ask parents/guardians and students to OPT IN for future emergency texts from New Trier. Students will receive the test notification in their Adviser room. Students and parents will not receive future texts unless they reply YES to the text as directed.

The body of the text will state:

"This is a test of New Trier's emergency alert system. To continue receiving emergency texts from New Trier, you must reply with YES. Future texts will come from 87569 or 79041.

Preventing Harm to Self & Others / School Violence Reporting

There are important steps we all can take - students, staff, family, and friends - to identify safety threats and prevent those in our school community from harming themselves or others. We teach our students to “See Something, Say Something.” If social media posts, conversations, or other actions indicate someone may be planning to hurt themselves or others, students must reach out to a trusted adult to report what they know.

There are also steps families can take at home to help keep our school and community safe. Have conversations with students about the importance of speaking up if they are aware of safety threats. For families who own firearms, data show that keeping those firearms locked and separate from ammunition is a crucial step that can drastically reduce the opportunity for young people in particular to cause harm to self or others.

These resources are some of the many available for students, staff, and families to find out more information about reporting safety concerns, accessing mental health resources, safely storing firearms, and more:

TrevTips - TrevTips is New Trier’s anonymous online reporting system
Crisis Hotlines, TrevTips, and Mental Health Resources - Local and national hotlines and resources for those in need of help
https://besmartforkids.org/ - Be SMART promotes responsible gun ownership with an emphasis on safe gun storage to reduce child gun deaths
https://www.schoolsafety.gov/ - a collection of resources and reports from the federal government

Presentations

Director of Campus Safety

Director of Campus Safety: Raimond Pavely

Raimond Pavely previously worked as a police officer for over 20 years, which included a portion as a School Resource Officer. As SRO at Wilmette Schools, his responsibilities were broad and extended to performing internet and child safety presentations, drug and alcohol awareness classes, and bike safety training each year. He was responsible for investigating crimes, threats, social conflicts, bullying, and incidents related to juveniles in the community. Raimond is well versed in training on the topics of Active Assailant, Tactical Medicine, Workplace Violence, Stop the Bleed, and Firearms. He received certification as a Security Assessment Specialist from the American Crime Prevention Institute. He has also received training on the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. Raimond is committed to teaching and training others on the principles of establishing safety and awareness in public and private places.

Contact: Raimond Pavely, Director of Campus Safety
Phone: 847-784-2263
Email: pavelyr@newtrier.k12.il.us