School Directory

Fair Notice Process - Student Assessment of Risk to Others

Fair Notice and Process

In Medicine Hat Catholic schools, the safety of our children is a top priority.

Along with our community partners, we are committed to keeping our schools safe for students and staff. The community partners as members of the Southeast Alberta Regional Assessment of Risk to Others (ARTO) committee have developed a plan for responding to all situations in which students may be posing a threat to themselves or others, which includes that all staff must report all threat related behaviours.

The information provided on this page is intended to serve our community with fair notice that we, as a school division, will not accept “no response” to a threat in our schools.

We are proud to be able to provide this level of support to our school communities and we are fortunate to have the commitment of our community partners. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact your school administrator or further information can be found in the links below. 

Fair Notice Letter 2024 - PDF

SE Alberta Regional Assessing Risk and Threat to Others (ARTO) Process

The Assessment of Risk to Others (ARTO) Process is designed to be proactive in developing intervention/safety plans that address the emotional and physical safety of those involved; to ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat; and to begin to understand the factors that contribute to the threat-maker’s behaviour. 

A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, posted on the Internet, or made by gesture. Every threat must be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated and a response and follow through completed. 

Each school has a multi-disciplinary ARTO team that includes the school administration, schoolbased counselors and support staff, and may also include division resource staff and community partners (i.e. police, mental health practitioners).  It is important for all parties to engage in the ARTO process.  If for some reason there is reluctance to participate in the process, by the threatmaker or the parent/guardian, the process will still continue to ensure a safe and caring learning environment for all. 

The ARTO process begins when threat making behaviours are reported.  The ARTO process is then activated.  Interviews will be held with the student(s), the threat-maker, parents, and staff to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident.  An intervention  plan will be developed and follow up meetings will occur, as deemed necessary, to ensure that interventions are supporting all those involved. 

The model presented reflects the thinking and work of J. Kevin Cameron, Executive Director of the Center for Trauma Informed Practices www.ctipractices.com.