School Safety and Facilities
Brandon A. Cruz, Supervisor
School Safety & Facilities
(914) 345-8500, Ext. 3167
bcruz@swboces.org
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention®
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Training provides your educators with the skills to safely recognize and respond to everyday crisis situations. You will learn to:
- Minimize Physical Interventions
- Recognize & Respond to Defensive Behaviors
- Understand What’s Behind the Behavior
- Address the Needs of the Individual
Regional Crisis Response Team
The SWBOCES Regional Crisis Response Team (RCRT) supports school districts after a crisis by providing Consultation, Counseling, Debriefing, and Support. A crisis can be a natural disaster, the passing of an individual within your school community, or a distant event that has a deep effect on students and staff. More information about the becoming an RCRT member or accessing services is available on the RCRT Resources Page
Coronavirus Resources
Southern Westchester BOCES has assembled and shared reliable resources about the COVID-19 outbreak since early in the pandemic. Our Coronavirus Resources Page is a continuously updated repository of information and guidance from medical professionals and public health officials, curated to inform and protect the health and safety of our community.
Events coming up
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SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Science Investigation (Biology). Structure and Function: Balancing Act -Exploring Feedback and Homeostasis
This one-day session focuses on Science Investigation (Biology) Structure and Function: Balancing Act -Exploring Feedback and Homeostasis.
This Investigation is a hands-on laboratory experience that prepares teachers to ready students for the new Biology Regents Examination to be administered in June 2025. (This is 2 of 3 Science Investigations: Biology).
Participants in this one-day session will: experience this Investigation both as a teacher and student; plan and conduct an investigation to determine the body's response to an external factor that may affect feedback mechanisms related to thermoregulation; analyze data related to the regulation of blood glucose levels; analyze collected data to draw conclusions about thermoregulation; explore a phenomenon and draw conclusions relating to feedback mechanisms that maintain homeostasis; deepen their understanding of NYSED's expectations for the new Regents' exam in Life Science: Biology.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Key Points Refresher Recertification
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Key Points Refresher is designed to help improve your understanding of key program concepts, enhance your skills and provide strategies to apply the information to workplace realities. Only participants who have completed the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training during the 2022-2023 school year are eligible to participate in the Refresher Training. You must attend all sessions. In addition, we are asking that individuals attend in pairs or trios so that they can perform the physical interventions with a partner. All participants must complete the physical interventions in order to receive certification.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
NYS Literacy Initiative: An exploration of the P-3 L
NYS Literacy Initiative: An exploration of the P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices Tool
In response to NYSED's Literacy Initiative and NYS Education Law §818, this session will provide administrators and literacy leaders with an opportunity to learn about, explore and plan for utilization of the P-3 Instructional Best Practices Tool. The P-3 Instructional Best Practices Tool is to be utilized when reviewing instruction and making the required attestation per Education Law §818 by September 2025. Subsequent to the law's 2024 passage, districts must reflect on the instructional best practices and literacy curriculum for students in prekindergarten through third grade, ensuring literacy instruction and interventions align with the Commissioner's requirement that literacy instruction be based on the body of research known as the Science of Reading. Participants will have time to walk through the resource, reflect on the implementation of the best practices, and consider the steps to complete the attestation process.
We welcome teams of teachers, administrators, instructional coaches, reading specialists, and other literacy leaders to join. Note: If you attended the NYSED/BOCES launch sessions on January 7th, or the SOR PreK-12 Study group on January 15th, this will be an expanded version.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
PE/HE CONSORTIUM - Women's Health
Women's health is the catalyst to women empowerment. Women empowerment will elevate an individual's lifestyle, prevention, and safety for long term health and wellness. Participants will focus on health promotion and education regarding girls and young women in health education and physical education. Participants are guided by the National Health Education Standards alongside receiving best practices through health skills based activities and resources. Learning Objectives:
• Educators will be able to enhance their knowledge and comprehension regarding Girls / Young Women and health topics
• Educators will be able to gain women's health resources and services that can be an aid for students, families, and classroom teaching
• Educators will be able to transfer health skills based activities into their classroom for positive and meaningful engagementCenter for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
Meet-Up: Our Local History as a Resource for Culturally Responsive Social Studies Instruction
Come to this Meetup for an introduction to the units that Our Local History has customized for Westchester County. The units are based in US and local history, focused on: 1) 19th century local enslavement and resistance, and 2) 20th century local redlining and civil rights action. These asset-based curriculum resources embody principles of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education. Participants will receive an overview of the instructional resources and discuss considerations for application.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
Meet-Up: Introduction to the NYSED Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Education Framework
This session provides an introduction to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) Framework, designed to help educators create more inclusive and affirming learning environments. Participants will explore the four principles of the CRSE framework-Welcoming and Affirming Environment, High Expectations and Rigorous Instruction, Inclusive Curriculum and Assessment, and Ongoing Professional Learning and Support-and examine how they can be applied in classroom practice.
By the end of this session, participants will:
Understand the key principles of the NYSED CRSE Framework.
Recognize the impact of culturally responsive teaching on student learning and engagement.
Identify actionable steps to integrate CRSE principles into their classroom practice.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Key Points Refresher Recertification
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Key Points Refresher is designed to help improve your understanding of key program concepts, enhance your skills and provide strategies to apply the information to workplace realities. Only participants who have completed the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training during the 2022-2023 school year are eligible to participate in the Refresher Training. You must attend all sessions. In addition, we are asking that individuals attend in pairs or trios so that they can perform the physical interventions with a partner. All participants must complete the physical interventions in order to receive certification. If you have further questions regarding the course, please contact Brandon Cruz via email at bcruz@swboces.org.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Science Investigation (Biology). Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: For the Birds -Designing Solutions
This one-day session focuses on Science Investigation (Biology). Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: For the Birds -Designing Solutions.
This Investigation for the Regents Examinations in Life Science: Biology is a hands-on laboratory experience that prepares students for the new Regents Examinations to be administered in June 2025. (This is 3 of 3 Science Investigations: Biology).
Participants in this one-day session will: experience this Investigation both as a teacher and student; simulate the collision between a bird in flight with a glass window; collaborate to design, evaluate, and refine a window screen that could be used to reduce the force of this impact and bird mortality; construct a data table(s) that will be used to organize the data collected evaluate the results of this simulation and determine the effectiveness of the solution; refine the solution to further optimize its effectiveness; deepen their understanding of NYSED's expectations for the new Regents' exam in Life Science: Biology.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
2024-25 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Leaders' Action Network
This professional learning workshop is designed to support school district teams in identifying, developing, and executing an initiative to create equitable systems within their districts. The Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Education Framework, will anchor our work to - "create student-centered learning environments that: affirm racial, linguistic and cultural identities; prepare students for rigor and independent learning; develop students' abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; and empower students as agents of social change.” Each participating district is strongly encouraged to register as a team of at least two members and up to 5. Together, participants will LEARN, SHARE and ACT on a new initiative or grow an existing one, that supports your district's vision to create inclusive school communities. We will provide strategies and support to help build a solid foundation for successful implementation. The intentional collaboration among various stakeholders ensures that this work is a shared responsibility, reinforcing the idea that creating equitable educational environments is a collective effort.
Network Goals:
- Ground our work in NYSED's CRSE Framework and NYSED's DEI Policy
- Identify an area of focus and implement action steps to support your district's DEI initiative
- Contribute to Network resourcesCenter for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Early Learning (PK-3) Educators Network
Join us for collaborative learning experiences with colleagues who are dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences of Early Learners (PK-3) across all content areas. Together we will explore best practices, theories, and innovative approaches to early childhood education. Members of the group will engage in activities such as sharing resources, analyzing current research, developing curriculum strategies, and reflecting on their teaching methods. We welcome teams of teachers, administrators, instructional coaches, early learning specialists, department chairs, and all who support Early Learning.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
Mandated Training
The Mandated Training Link above lists School Safety training mandates and Facilities requirements for all NYS schools and districts. Please refer to the link and to our Training and Services listed below.
Regional Facilities News
Southern Westchester BOCES is proud to partner with the Southeastern Chapter of the New York State School Facilities Association (NYSSFA). Please use the links below to find the NYSSFA meeting calendar and training information.
NYSSFA Calendar
NYSSFA Training Opportunities
School Safety Training
- Active Shooter Training
- Building Level Emergency Response Planning
- CPR/AED
- Crisis Response Training
- DASA/Violence Prevention refreshers
- Develop Crisis Plans
- Incident Command Management
- Lockdown Emergency Training
- New Building Emergency Plan Template
- Risk Assessments
- Safety Audits
- Table Top Exercises
Facilities/Compliance
- Asbestos testing and training
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Chemical Hygiene Plan Development
- Chemical and Petroleum Storage
- Cooling Towers Inspections
- CPR/AED
- Fire Inspections
- Indoor Air Quality Testing
- Lockout/Tagout
- Playground and Gymnasium Inspections
- Right to Know
- Underground Storage Tank Programs
- Water Testing
