News Student Safety
Published on November 9, 2020The safety of our students and staff is a high priority for all of us at Pella Community Schools. Safety includes many areas: building security, inclement weather, physical and mental health, bullying and harassment.
One area of safety that tends to remain silent is sexual abuse.
Victims often don’t feel safe in speaking out about their abuse. Negative social attitudes towards victims plays a big part in their reluctance to come forward. There is fear of retaliation, being discredited, and being ignored. By staying silent, survivors can carry with them a burden of shame as well as risk delaying their mental and emotional healing.
Victims need to feel safe to speak out about their abuse and their abuser. They deserve nothing less than our full attention, empathy and grace.
Attached, please find an open letter to survivors who were victims during their time at Pella Community Schools. The district encourages them to speak out. They will be heard, they will be believed and they will be supported.
Resources:
RAINN Website
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
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Rape Crisis Website
Rape Crisis Hotline: 1-210-349-7273
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The TREVOR Project Website
TREVOR Hotline: 1-866-488-7386