Sandy Hook Promise’s Say Something program teaches elementary, middle, and high school students to recognize warning signs that someone may be at risk of harming themselves or others and report their concerns to a trusted adult.
The program emphasizes three key steps: recognize the signs, act immediately, and say something.
Initially, Milford Public Schools hosted a presenter from Sandy Hook Promise to deliver the Say Something slideshow in person. In recent years, the district shifted to a video presentation to engage students.
This year, the district introduced a new approach. Both high schools sent Natural Helpers, members of the SAVE Promise club, and fall sports captains to present the Say Something program in person at all three of Milford’s middle schools.
Supervisor of School Climate, Dr. Christianne Golesky explains the reasoning behind this shift, “This year, we felt it was important to have students deliver the content so the message would be received from older students they look up to.”
Dean of Students Mr. Justin Zywocinski echoes this message, emphasizing the value of a peer-to-peer approach in combination with the traditional teacher-led approach.
Zywocinski adds, “I think it was a nice experience for the middle school students to have high school students speak to them about talking to a trusted adult.”.
Many middle school teachers shared positive feedback, noticing that the presentations made a meaningful impact. They aimed to help students become more aware of their surroundings, recognize signs of distress in their peers, and understand how small observations could prevent larger issues.
West Shore Middle School teacher Mr. Beau Kamykowski says, “I believe the presentation had a significant impact on my students by giving them the confidence and skills to check in on their peers, recognize troubling behaviors, and communicate with trusted adults.”
Teachers also play a critical role in supporting the program by staying observant, listening to students’ concerns, and taking the concerns seriously.
Jacob Kirker, a sixth grader at Harborside Middle School, shared how the presentation changed his view about speaking up to a trusted adult.
Kirker states, “The presentation taught me that telling a trusted adult can make a difference if I see a big problem at school. I also enjoyed the activities because they were fun and helped with teamwork.”
Sandy Hook Promise’s Say Something program teaches students to recognize and report warning signs and fosters a safe school community where everyone knows the importance of speaking up.
Golesky concludes, “We plan to continue to use the Say Something program in both our middle schools and our high schools to promote a safe school climate.”
