Protecting our students is part of fulfilling our Church’s mission and philosophy. We understand that a child’s emotional, physical, spiritual, and psychological well-being affects academics. As a way of protecting the wonderful children that God has entrusted to us, we work closely with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Safeguard the Children.
Part of our safety measures include background checks/fingerprinting and VIRTUS® training of all staff and volunteers. VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children Adult Awareness Session is a three-hour training that helps clergy, staff, volunteers and parents understand the facts and myths about child sexual abuse; how perpetrators operate; and how caring adults can take five important steps to keep children safe. The parent session also stresses monitoring of computers, cell phones and other technology that perpetrators use to gain access to children and young people.
Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® is being implemented in Grades K-8 in Catholic elementary schools throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The program is designed to be age-appropriate, to support students in understanding occasions of abuse, and to give them confidence in reporting and asserting themselves in situations where they feel unsafe.
VIRTUS® Teaching Touching Safety is a K-12 program being implemented in religious education programs and Catholic schools. This program is a vehicle through which parents, teachers, catechists and youth ministers give students the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them. The Archdiocesan Office of Safeguard the Children works with the schools and Directors of Religious Education in the parishes to establish these programs.
Please visit the Office of Safeguard the Children website to learn more information so you can help keep our children safe. You will also find helpful weekly bulletins with advice for parents on the site. The Parent Handbook has further information on reporting policies as well as support services provided through our counseling program. Please look for printable information on our “Handbook, Printable Calendar, & Forms” page.
We ask all parents to help us with our safety and prevention efforts by being fingerprinted, attending the VIRTUS class, and allowing your child to participate in the Teaching Touching Safety Program. If you are a school parent, please contact our school Principal, Mrs. Patricia Aparicio for more information about the VIRTUS training and being fingerprinted. If your child is in one of the religious education programs (e.g. Catechism, Confirmation), please contact the rectory for more information at 323-256-3041.
