April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As a part of our initiative to bring awareness to our schools and community, I wanted to share you with you important dates and resources available to our staff, students and families. Events: ● March 29th: Press conference & pinwheel garden planting at the courthouse. Join elected officials, non-profit partners and local advocates as we launch Child Abuse Prevention Month by planting a pinwheel garden at the Courthouse circle. Time: 10 a.m. Location: Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 832 E. 4th St., Charlotte. We would love for CMS staff at all grade levels to be able to attend. If any students and families would like to attend, we encourage their participation as well* ● April 5th: National Wear Blue Day Join the agencies of the Mecklenburg Child Abuse Prevention Team and Prevent Child Abuse America in wearing blue for child abuse prevention on Friday, April 5! Take a picture and and share it on social media with the hashtags #Meck4Kids and #PassThePinwheel. Show your support for prevention! School Involvement: ● This year, we have 33 schools participating in planting pinwheel gardens at their school ● Pinwheel pick up/ delivery is anticipated to be around March 29th. I will update those who completed the google doc as to the exact date when it becomes available. ● When they are ready for pick up, pinwheels can be picked up at: CMS Atrium Office of Student Wellness & Academic Support Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools 4421 Stuart Andrew Blvd 5th Floor, Student Services Department Charlotte, NC 28217 ● For those that cannot pick up the pinwheel kits, we will have a volunteer through our committee bring the kit to your school
On April 5th: ● We encourage all schools to wear blue on this day to support Child Abuse Prevention month● We would love to share pictures of your students wearing blue. Please take pictures, if permitted, and send them to: Angela Menon, Graduation Specialist: [email protected]● We also encourage posting pictures of your students in blue or planting pinwheel gardens. If posting pictures on your school’s social media site, we encourage you to use the national hashtag for this awareness month #wearblue as well as our county’s abuse prevention team hashtag #meck4kids ● Some schools have voiced interest in having media at their school for this event, whether it is wearing blue or planting pinwheels. Meghan McDonald, Community Liaison Coordinator, with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, will contact you to arrange this
Additional helpful resources for staff, students and families can be found on the Mecklenburg Child Abuse Prevention Team’s website: https://www.meck4kids.org/