UA Safety Week 2025 information and resources
Safety is a shared responsibility, and schools, the city, police, fire and families all play a role in helping students learn and thrive in a safe environment.
This week, we are partnering with the City of Upper Arlington and the Upper Arlington Police and Fire Divisions on our third annual Upper Arlington Safety Week. This is a time to focus on important safety topics and come together as a community to support our students.
In this video, Superintendent Robert Hunt, Ph.D., City Manager Steve Schoeny, Police Chief Keith Hall and Fire Chief Chris Zimmer share why it’s important for our community to work together to create a safe environment where students can thrive.
Each day will focus on a specific topic related to the safety of our students and our schools:
- Monday: School safety and prevention efforts
- Tuesday: Fire safety
- Wednesday: Road safety — with a focus on e-bikes and scooters
- Thursday: Internet safety
- Friday: Well-being and prevention
Students will hear daily announcements and participate in activities and safety drills at school. Families will receive a daily email with resources to help continue conversations at home about staying safe.
School safety and prevention
Today’s theme for Upper Arlington Safety Week, in partnership with the City of Upper Arlington, is school safety and prevention. Keeping our schools safe is a shared responsibility — for students, staff, parents/guardians and the community.
This week, all of our schools will practice one of the state-required safety drills, an important part of our preparedness efforts. In addition to the drills, safety plans for each building are regularly updated with the state of Ohio.
In this video, Superintendent Robert Hunt, Ph.D., shares more information about our safety preparedness efforts and the response levels we use in the event of a safety concern.
Clear communication with families is critical during any safety concern. While the priority is always the safety of students and staff, Upper Arlington Schools will work with safety officials to confirm information and notify parents/guardians as quickly as possible via phone, email and/or text. If you need to update your contact information or are not receiving updates, email allcall@uaschools.org.
You also play a vital role in school safety. Report suspicious or concerning activity by phone, email, or anonymously through the Stay Safe. Speak Up! system (available on our website and via ClassLink on student iPads). For immediate emergencies, always call 911.
Below are some additional resources for you to review at home:
- Upper Arlington Schools Safety Response Levels
- Tips for Talking to Your Child About School Safety
- Be Smart: Keeping Your Home Safe With Secure Storage
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital Safe Storage Saves Lives
Fire safety
This year, UA Safety Week aligns with Fire Prevention Week — a perfect reminder of the importance of fire safety both at school and at home.
At school, students practice state-required fire drills each month. At home, families can take simple but important steps to be prepared. In this video from the Upper Arlington Fire Division, you’ll learn about three key parts of fire preparedness:
- Making a family fire escape plan
- Checking smoke detectors to ensure they work
- Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher
The national theme for Fire Prevention Week this year is lithium-ion battery safety. These batteries power many of the devices we use every day — but if damaged, they can overheat, catch fire or even explode. To help keep your home safe, check out the tipsheet in our resources below for safe practices with lithium-ion batteries.
- Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-ion Batteries in Your Home
- The Power and Danger of Lithium-ion Batteries Video from the National Fire Protection Association
- Fire Prevention Resources from the Upper Arlington Fire Division
- Home Fire Escape Planning from the National Fire Protection Association
E-Scooter, E-Bike and Vehicle Safety
In partnership with the City of Upper Arlington and the Upper Arlington Police Division, today’s UA Safety Week focus is on a topic that’s top of mind for many in our community: e-scooter and e-bike safety.
Smart riders make safe riders. Whether walking, driving, biking, or riding an e-scooter or e-bike, everyone shares the responsibility to follow the rules of the road.
In today’s UA Safety Week video, Upper Arlington safety officials and a doctor from Nationwide Children’s Hospital share the very real dangers of e-bikes and e-scooters — and emphasize the importance of having conversations at home with your children before they ride.
We encourage you to talk to your students at home about the following rules and laws that they should follow if they’re using e-bikes or e-scooters:
- Wear a helmet. Nearly 1 in 3 crashes involve a head injury — yet only 4% of injured riders were wearing helmets.
- Ride solo. Scooters and e-bikes aren’t meant for passengers — there should only be one rider per vehicle.
- Use the right routes. Stick to streets, bike lanes, shared-use paths or bike paths. Remember: no e-bikes on sidewalks in business districts, and no scooters or e-bikes on sidewalks or paths in city parks.
- Follow traffic laws. Just like bicyclists, e-scooter and e-bike riders must obey traffic signals, stop at stop signs and avoid unsafe behaviors like weaving through traffic or riding at excessive speeds.
If you see unsafe e-scooter or e-bike use, please report it to the Upper Arlington Police Division at 614-459-2800.
You’ll find additional resources below to help guide conversations at home about scooter, e-bike, vehicle and school bus safety, based on the age of your student.
- Don’t Gamble With Your Ride: Road and Traffic Safety Information for E-Bikes and Scooters
- Safe UA Resource Page
- Preventing Theft in Vehicles
- School Bus Safety
Digital Safety
At Upper Arlington Schools, digital safety is a partnership between families and our schools. We’re committed to protecting students while they explore, learn and grow online.
The district’s Lightspeed Relay filtering system automatically reviews websites and online videos to ensure content is appropriate for each student’s grade level. It works 24/7 on all district-issued iPads, at school and at home. You can learn more about how it works in this video.
Each week, up to two custodial parents/guardians receive an online activity report via email from do_not_reply@lightspeedsystems.com. You can find a link at the bottom of the report to review your child’s web activity for the week in more detail and manage access outside school hours. If you notice anything concerning, you can contact FamilyTechHelp@uaschools.org.
Monitoring your child’s online activity is one way to support their safety, but keeping our schools safe is a shared responsibility. If you see anything suspicious or concerning online, you can report it through the Stay Safe. Speak Up! system (available on our website and via ClassLink on student iPads). For immediate emergencies, always call 911.
Below, you can find instructions on how to access the Lightspeed Parent Portal, as well as additional resources to support conversations about digital safety at home.
- Lightspeed Relay Monitoring Information for Parents
- Board Policy 7540.03 - Technology Acceptable Use Policy for Students
- Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls for Home Devices
Well-Being and Prevention
The final day of UA Safety Week focuses on well-being and prevention, which is at the heart of all aspects of safety for our students.
Our school counselors play a vital role in fostering emotional safety and a culture of belonging. In this video, you can hear directly from our counselors about what this looks like in our schools.
Every student benefits from having a trusted adult — someone who listens, supports and helps them navigate challenges. At Upper Arlington Schools, we are committed to ensuring that every student has access to caring adults during their school day. Whether it’s a counselor, teacher or another staff member, these relationships help students feel safe, understood and ready to thrive.
Today, in our elementary schools, we will be discussing trusted adults in students' lives and what that means to them personally. At the middle schools and high schools, students will learn about the Acknowledge, Care, Tell (ACT) approach for supporting peers who show signs of distress or exhibit behavioral changes.
We encourage you to talk to your child about who their trusted adults are at school, and let them know that reaching out for support is a sign of strength. You can also engage your child in creative activities such as art, music or cooking to help them decompress and develop their communication skills.
As a reminder, all families, K-12, have access to mental health services for their students through our schools — through our district mental health specialists at the secondary level and free telehealth support via Hazel Health at the elementary level. You can contact your school counselor if you are interested in additional support for your student.
Below are some resources to be aware of to help support your child’s mental health at home:
- The Kids Mental Health Foundation Resources for Parents & Caregivers
- Mental Health America Helping at Home: Tips for Parents
- Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health (video)
- Types of Mental Health Care and Crisis Visits
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- 741741 Crisis Text Line
- Nationwide Children's Mobile Response Stabilization Services — 1-888-418-6777
- Nationwide Children's Hospital Suicide Prevention Video Resources
Together, families and schools build the foundation for student well-being and safety.
- Safety