Back to School Red Flag Rally in Nassau

Local leaders highlight gun violence crisis affecting children and teens, seek parity with Suffolk’s rigorous Red Flag law campaign

MINEOLA, N.Y.Sept. 7, 2023PRLog — As students headed back to school this week, gun violence prevention advocates including Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Linda Beigel Schulman, gun violence survivors, concerned parents, and Nassau County Gun Sense Candidates held a rally at the Nassau County Supreme Court to urge more rigorous local enforcement of New York State’s recently-enhanced Red Flag law. In circumstances where a person may be a danger to themself or others, this policy allows police, family members and neighbors, healthcare practitioners, and school officials to petition to temporarily remove that person’s guns (i.e. issue a Red Flag order) until after a judicial hearing. In Nassau, enforcement is not nearly as rigorous as it should be.

The rally, held during most students’ first week back to school, is a response to the pandemic-era increase in youth gun deaths, including by suicide. A study published last month in Pediatrics found that firearm deaths among children increased 41.6% between 2018 and 2021—guns were the leading cause of death among American children. And a March 2023 study in Pediatrics found that youth suicides increased significantly during the first year of the pandemic, as did youth suicides by firearm.

“As a father, I know how much stress our kids are dealing with nowadays; that stress can lead to violence, inflicted towards themselves or others,” said Seth Koslow, the Gun Sense Candidate running to represent the fifth Legislative District. “To protect our kids, we need to cut off their access to firearms when they are in severe distress. We have the state law in place to do that, but it’s just not being enforced in Nassau.”

In response to the shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in May 2022 that killed ten people and injured three more, New York State took definitive action to strengthen our gun violence protections. Among other measures, NYS expanded its existing Red Flag law (https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-la…), requiring local police and district attorneys to file Red Flag orders when they have “acquired credible information that an individual is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm—either to themselves or others.”

Suffolk County has led the state in enforcing this mandate, issuing more than 1,500 such orders in one year (https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/new-york-red-fl…). The vast majority of these orders were issued in response to 911 calls or other warnings of self-harm (https://paper.newsday.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?edid=f8b9a9f4-c53d-4d49-9795-099219c25515). Nassau has not taken equivalent action, issuing less than 40 Red Flag orders in one year (https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/new-york-red-flag-orders-suffolk-county-kathy-hochul-buffalo-shootings-fux5wfhq).

Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son, Scott J. Beigel, was a teacher and cross-country coach murdered in the Parkland High School shooting in 2018, said, “The shooter who killed my son was known to the authorities and school officials as ‘crazy boy’. They knew he had guns and had severe emotional issues. If Florida had a Red Flag Law prior to February 14, my son would be alive today.  Within months of the shooting, Florida, one of the most pro-gun states, enacted their Red Flag Law.  The Red Flag Law in Florida has been invoked over 8000 times since its enactment (https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/politics/florida-red-flag-law/index.html)—which unquestionably has prevented more shootings and saved lives.  Why are the Nassau County Republicans against preventing more gun deaths by making use of this highly effective, reasonable and constitutional gun safety legislation?”

“A Red Flag order could have saved my uncle, who died by gun suicide,” said Deanna Drury, a member of the Everytown Survivor Network. “My family’s story is one of many examples where temporarily removing firearms could have saved a life, and I am sharing with you in the hopes that together we can prevent further tragedy.  The vast majority of survivors of a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide. ERPOs allow people in crisis the chance to obtain the help they need.”

Advocates and candidates at the rally outlined ways to increase the use of Red Flag orders. Education about our Red Flag law can increase community members’ use of them. Jana Nesbitt Gale, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action on Long Island, spoke about normalizing what can seem like hard conversations to have, “We need to let people know when we are worried about them—adults and children—and we need to make talking about guns and suicide less taboo. Red Flag Laws allow us to help in the immediate situation and prevent loved ones, neighbors and our law enforcement community from having to deal with a possibly fatal situation.”

“Everything starts with education,” said Alexis Pace, the Gun Sense Candidate running to represent the fourth Legislative District. “We need the County’s help to teach our school officials, our healthcare workers, and our police how to use our Red Flag law.”

The rally attendees vowed to continue their push for rigorous Red Flag law enforcement, as Nassau County’s schoolchildren have a right to safety from gun violence.

“It’s unacceptable that the law is not being enforced in Nassau County,” said Weihua Yan, the Gun Sense Candidate running to represent the tenth Legislative District, which encompasses Great Neck and parts of New Hyde Park and Manhasset. “In my district, which has some of the largest AAPI and Jewish populations on Long Island, we are left vulnerable to the possibility of violent hate crimes like we saw last year in Buffalo or this year in California and Jacksonville. The time for talk is over—we need to enforce these laws now.”

Back to School Ready and Resilient

Strategies to prepare children and teens for a new school year.

School year strategies from OPC

School year strategies from OPC

TOMS RIVER, N.J.Aug. 8, 2023PRLog — The prospect of heading back to school can elicit mixed emotions among students no matter the age. While some may be eager and excited, others may feel anxious or nervous. Regardless of where your child falls on the spectrum, help them mentally prepare for their first day back. Victoria Azzopardi, LCSW, Director of Clinical Operations at Ocean Partnership for Children offers guidance and resources for the whole family as they navigate the back to school season.

Start Early
The transition from lazy summer days to structured school routines can be hard on both children and caregivers. A few weeks before school starts, begin to discuss a transition plan for re-establishing structure and familiarity into the household routine.

“School routine at any age is important and the earlier you start, the better off you are,” stated Azzopardi. “I would encourage having your child or teen join in on writing out or drawing pictures of the steps in the routine and the allotted time. This routine should include expectations on homework, playtime, dinner times, electronic use and overall nightly prep. At least two to three weeks before school, start implementing the agreed upon structure.”

Stay Organized
From school supply preparation to physical space for schoolwork, staying organized is key to back to school transitions. Prepare everything the night before so you can start their day organized.

Most schools have web portals that allow students to check their assigned teacher’s page for items they may need for the upcoming school year. “If a caregiver does not have access to a computer in advance of the school year, they could visit their local library. If that is not possible, start off with the basic items needed, such as pencils, pens, folders, notebooks, erasers, binders, sticky notes, sharpies and highlighters,” noted Azzopardi.

Establish a place in the home where schoolwork can be completed and maintained. Once school starts, it’s important to keep backpack and work areas clean. “Weekly, do a clean sweep. If papers need to be kept, file them; otherwise, toss them,” Azzopardi recommends. Weekly, caregivers along with their child/teen can check the school’s web portal to ensure everything is up to date and if not, make plans for completion.

Talk With Your Kids
Talk to your kids early about what it will be like heading back to school. Ask open ended questions, such as, “how are you feeling about school starting?”

“The key is supporting our kids when they are stressed or anxious about the upcoming school year. It is important to be fully present and actively listening without minimizing their feelings or trying to fix the situation,” noted Azzopardi. “Allow them the space to process their feelings without judgement.” Sometimes just knowing that someone understands what they’re experiencing is enough to help kids get through the fear, worry or anxiety of school starting.

Watch for Symptoms of Anxiety, and Then Manage
Anxiety is a universal feeling. When anxiety gets too big, kids may experience restlessness, excessive negative thoughts and worries, quickness to anger, bouts of unexplained crying, struggles concentrating, changes in eating and sleeping habits, somatic complaints and overly clingy behavior.

Caregivers know their child/teen best. “If you notice prolonged (couple of days up to two weeks) changes where the child/teen is showing signs that are unusual for them and discussion has not quelled their nerves, caregivers have many resources available at their fingertips for support,” stated Azzopardi. Caregivers can outreach directly to the school, their pediatrician, their insurance company to secure emotional/social support for their child/teen. They can also contact PerformCare at 877-652-7624, where the situation will be triaged and information and referral will be provided.

In-school support is available throughout the state of New Jersey, with many offering school counseling support as well as social supports such as Lunch Bunch. Azzopardi recommends, “caregivers, children and teens should seek out their guidance counselor to see what is available to them in their school system. If the child/teen’s emotional and social needs seem to require more support than what the school services can provide, the guidance counselor will be able to guide referrals.”

Preparing for a New School
Whether children/teens are returning to the same school or starting a new one, the start of a new school year can usually produce some angst, even among the most excited. However, most settle into an everyday routine in no time.

“Driving the child/teen to the school, showing them the exterior of the school building ahead of the first day helps set expectation and ease anxiety,” noted Azzopardi. For the first couple of days up to a week, caregivers should consider adjusting their own schedule to be home when their child/teen returns from school, helping to make the change easier. Of course, not all caregivers have that option. In that case, Azzopardi recommends caregivers arrange evenings to give their child/teen attention, especially during the first few days back at school. “While you may spend time talking about school, it’s a good idea to play a boardgame, watch a movie or favorite TV show or just get the body moving outside to promote healthy connections.”

About Ocean Partnership for Children Inc.
Founded in 2005, Ocean Partnership for Children (OPC) is Ocean County’s Care Management Organization (CMO). Its mission is to enhance the well-being of youth and their families through natural and community supports. OPC provides care coordination services for Ocean County youth up the age of 21 years who have mental health, substance use, intellectual and developmental challenges. OPC strives to keep children and adolescents at home, in school, and in the community by connecting them to resources that meet their unique needs and help them achieve their goals.

Ocean Partnership for Children is a non-profit organization available at no cost to all youth and families in Ocean County who meet the eligibility criteria of the New Jersey Children’s System of care. To learn more, visit https://www.oceanpartnership.org or https://www.oceanresourcenet.org.

OSCR360 Team to Promote School Safety and Emergency Preparedness at Indianapolis NASRO Conference 

INDIANAPOLISJune 15, 2023PRLog — The L-Tron team will attend the 2023 National Association for School Resource Officers (NASRO) School Safety Conference at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. The NASRO Conference will run from June 28 – July 3, and the L-Tron team will be available June 28 and 29th to show the OSCR360 system to attendees.

The NASRO 2023 Conference will feature three keynote presentations. Retired Deputy Chief of Arvada Police Department, AJ DeAndrea, and his daughter Madalena, an active shooter survivor, will present, “Dark Nights of the Soul; When Terror Hits Home.” Dr. Bernie James, Pepperdine University Professor of Law, will present, “School Safety and the Law 2023: ‘Fix-it Guide’ for Protecting and Educating.” Molly Hudgens will present, “Saving Sycamore: The School Shooting that Never Happened.”

The conference will offer several NASRO certification courses, as well as networking events, vendor exhibits, and dozens of breakout sessions on the trending topics of today.

Trevor DiMarco and Julianne Pangal will represent L-Tron at NASRO 2023 and look forward to sharing OSCR360 with conference participants.

“We are eager to meet and collaborate with school resource officers from all over the country at the upcoming NASRO 2023 Conference,” says Trevor DiMarco, L-Tron President and CEO. “Our shared goal is to equip school districts with the tools and training they need to keep students, teachers, and faculty safer on a daily basis.”

The patented OSCR360 is an emergency pre-planning tool that comprehensively captures, stores, and presents detailed 360-degree images of school campuses, inside and out. OSCR360 empowers school resource officers, law enforcement officers, first responders, and school administrators and staff by helping them prepare for the unthinkable (https://www.l-tron.com/oscr360-for-active-shooter-plannin…).

In addition to OSCR360’s emergency preparedness features, OSCR360 is used by agencies nationwide to investigate and prosecute major and minor crimes, crashes, and fire- and environmental-related crimes. Be sure to stop by Booth #812 at the NASRO 2023 Conference to meet the L-Tron team.

Additional Information:

To discover more about the conference and to register, please visit: https://www.nasro.org/conference-landing-pages/conference-landing-page/conference-information/.

About L-Tron

For two decades, L-Tron has partnered with public safety agencies to provide technology solutions built from your voice. We are a proud New York State business, and we are honored to “Back the Blue” in our own state, and in all 50 states nationwide, through a variety of educational events, non-profit sponsorships, and more. “Your Success is our Purpose.”

School Solutions 360, Inc. Launches: Empowering Schools with Integrated Educational Services

 School Solutions 360, Inc., a new conglomerate of educational companies, officially launches today, offering a comprehensive range of services and products to help schools achieve their goals and foster student success. This new organization brings together the strengths and expertise of its subsidiary companies, including Carter Books and Supplies, LLC, Interactive Business Solutions, LLC, and The Educators Spot, LLC, united under a shared vision of education as a transformative force in the world.

At the core of School Solutions 360, Inc.’s mission is the recognition that each of its subsidiaries plays a vital role in providing high-quality educational solutions:
• Carter Books and Supplies, LLC offers a diverse selection of top-quality educational products and services, including arts and crafts, teacher supplies, school supplies, office supplies, workbooks, and supplemental materials for remedial learning.
• Interactive Business Solutions, LLC delivers cutting-edge technology solutions designed to enhance learning, streamline operations, increase educator efficiency, and improve student engagement.
• The Educators Spot, LLC provides professional development workshops and customized services tailored to meet the specific needs of students, parents, and educators.

Schools that choose School Solutions 360, Inc. will benefit from the seamless integration of these subsidiary companies’ offerings, gaining access to a wide range of services, including classroom supplies and materials, innovative technology solutions, and professional development workshops. Additionally, educational consultant services are available to meet the unique needs of individual schools, further enhancing student learning and engagement.

With its commitment to supporting and empowering schools, School Solutions 360, Inc. aims to be a trusted partner in education, offering comprehensive solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and educators.

For more information about School Solutions 360, Inc. and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.schoolsolutions360.com or contact Abi Marsh at (404) 644-4198 or sales@schoolsolutions360.com.

About School Solutions 360, Inc. School Solutions 360, Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive educational solutions, with a mission to empower schools and transform lives through education. By uniting the strengths and expertise of its subsidiary companies, School Solutions 360, Inc. offers a wide range of products and services designed to enhance student learning and engagement, improve efficiency for educators, and support the unique needs of schools.

For more information, press only:
Abi Marsh
(404) 644-4198
abi@schoolsolutions360.com
www.schoolsolutions360.com

School Solutions 360, Inc
Abi Marsh
4046444198
www.schoolsolutions360.com
abi@schoolsolutions360.com

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School of Rock Students Are Ready to Take the Stage with Frank Zummo at 26 Degree Brewery

 School of Rock students from Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties, will participate and perform at 26 Degree Brewery with special guest, Sum 41 drummer, Frank Zummo. The public event will take place at 2600 Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach at 12:00pm on April 29, 2023. The event will include a drumming workshop with Frank Zummo, performances by School of Rock students and a Meet & Greet with Mr. Zummo.

Admission to the event is $15, and should be purchased in advance online at rocki.ng/417edOL. Proceeds from this event will benefit School of Rock’s longtime partner, The Society For The Prevention of Teen Suicide.

“Our students are excited to take the stage with renowned drummer Frank Zummo,” said Craig Zim, owner of the four School of Rock locations in Broward County. “Music has always been a powerful tool for unity and profoundly shape lives. It’s incredible to witness these young musicians embrace this remarkable opportunity to showcase their acquired knowledge and skill.”

School of Rock’s approach to music education is unique. Whereas traditional music education approaches focus on teaching music only through one-on-one lessons, School of Rock’s patented Method combines one-on-one instruction with group rehearsals and live performances, starting students on their musical journey by playing songs that inspire them. The integrated SongFirst approach teaches students techniques and theory while also helping them apply those skills when performing with other musicians. This results in remarkable musical proficiency.

“At School of Rock, our mission is to provide opportunities for our students to thrive, learn, and make meaningful connections,” said Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. “We are thrilled to partner with Frank Zummo and the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), to offer this event that brings the community together to share ideas and support one another. Music has the power to lift spirits, spark conversations and ignite passions.”

School of Rock provides students of all ages an exciting and engaging music lesson experience, which includes, bass lessons, guitar lessons, drum lessons, singing lessons and piano lessons. Frawing from all styles of Rock and Roll, School of Rock students learn theory and techniques via songs from legendary artists such as, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz and Led Zeppelin. Thanks to the school’s performance-based approach, students around the world have gained superior musical proficiency, with some moving on to record deals, and larger platforms such as, American Idol, The Voice and Broadway.

School of Rock
Burny Pelsmajer, Regional Manager
954-757-7625
https://www.schoolofrock.com/broward-county

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