Emily’s absence from class was noticeable. Her desk, usually adorned with colorful drawings and neatly stacked books, remained painfully empty. Rachel decided to talk to her class about what had happened, choosing her words carefully. She wanted to ensure her students understood the importance of speaking up if they ever felt unsafe.

“Sometimes,” Rachel explained, “our friends might be going through things that are hard to talk about. It’s important that we listen to each other and tell a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right. We all have the right to feel safe.”