Yet children are safer at school than in any other place except their homes. And schools are taking extra measures today to make schools even safer. These include monitoring visitors and teaching students how to deal with anger.

Parents can help schools ensure student safety by encouraging children to get to know all school staff members, not just their teachers. This way, they’ll recognize strangers who don’t belong at school. And they’ll know who they can turn to for help.

Other things parents can do:

• Give your school the names of adults who are allowed to pick up your child from school.

• Remind children that there’s safety in numbers. Ask them to stay close to friends and walk in groups in school hallways.

• Tell children to limit their restroom visits to recess and breaks when other students and school staff will be around.

• Ask children to be particularly careful with any classmate who brings a weapon to school. Insist they tell teachers immediately.

• Visit and volunteer at school as often as you can. The more parents are involved and visible at school, the safer it will be.

• Get to know your child’s friends and their families. Good friendships and a sense of common purpose among students, teachers and neighbors make schools and neighborhoods safer.

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