Be SMART Presentation Hosted By PTA & Gun Sense

Thursday, August 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
School-Faith Hall-Cafeteria (300)
3964 Castleman Ave., Saint Louis, 63110, United States

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Sponsored by the SMOS PTA & Gun Sense: For the Common Good

In 2024, St. Margaret of Scotland School began a partnership with Be SMART For Kids, becoming the first “Be SMART School” in the St. Louis area, to promote gun safety and have the important conversations that make our families, our community, and our neighborhoods safer.

As part of its school improvement plan, SMOS has been working on many initiatives to ensure our school and campus are safe – and that the students know what actions to take to keep themselves secure.  Safety around kids and guns is part of that effort. The proliferation of firearms in the United States has increased the need for discussions about this safety concern (did you know that there are 120.5 guns for every 100 residents in the U.S.?). The tragic incidences of unintentional shootings and teen suicide make these difficult, but very necessary, conversations to have. Guns are the leading cause of death in children and teens, and gun violence has become a national health crisis in the U.S. But these tragedies are preventable. 

That is why St. Margaret of Scotland School has ventured into this partnership with Be SMART to bring gun safety to our families.  There are two parts of this overall initiative at SMOS – the first (Be SMART) has to do with the grown-ups.  The second piece (which we’re calling Be SAFE) is a program to bring gun safety into the classroom to teach children about what to do if they find or are presented with an unsecured weapon. This program is being developed in conjunction with the Office of Catholic Education and is part of a pilot program for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. 

Be SMART @ SMOS

The concept is fairly simple – it means that St. Margaret of Scotland School is committed to helping parents, caregivers, and families keep kids safe when it comes to firearms.  Be SMART is a nationally renowned and respected partner in this commitment.  The Be SMART campaign was launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership in order to reduce the deaths, injuries, and trauma that can result when a child or teen is able to access a gun. SMOS has hosted Be SMART presentations for parents since 2023.

Here is what the program entails:

• Be SMART Pledge – Parents have the opportunity to sign a pledge (see reverse side) to “Be SMART” when it comes to handling gun safety, and talking to friends and family when their kids go to play at someone’s house.
• Be SMART Presentation – Parents are invited to attend a 60-minute seminar co-sponsored by the SMOS PTA and Gun Sense: For the Common Good on Thursday, August 28, at 7:00 pm at the School.  The discussion will include the five principles of the Be SMART plan and allow for Q&A from the participants.  Childcare will be provided so that parents can attend this important event. Please register here so that we can plan accordingly for seating and childcare.
• SMART Conversations – Support gun safety and secure firearm storage in our school community by having these conversations with other adults who are around our children and by taking the necessary steps to ensure your children’s safety around guns – a simple question or two can save lives.

To date, about 75% of the school families have pledged to Be SMART. New school families are presented with the pledge and program each year. If you are a returning parent who has not taken the pledge yet, it’s never too late to do so. Please take a few moments to review the pledge below, and we sincerely hope you join St. Margaret of Scotland in our efforts to reduce gun violence in our society.

Be SAFE @ SMOS

The Be SAFE gun safety for kids program is being newly developed by St. Margaret of Scotland in an effort to keep our students safe should they ever come across an unsecured weapon. The S-A-F-E in Be SAFE stands for Stop (everything that you’re doing and think), Avoid (touching the weapon), Flee (the area – get away from the weapon), and Enlist (the help of a grownup). For 2025, St. Margaret of Scotland School will be participating in National SMART Week at the end of August. More details are to come about these efforts, which will include an assembly for Grades K-5, curriculum in the classroom, and a prayer service planned by the middle school to honor all of those killed in St. Louis by gun violence, to date this year. A middle school elective about gun safety and teen suicide is being developed for the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of the 2025-26 school year.

Be SMART: Talking About Kids, Guns, & Safety

Do you know what the gun safety situation is where your kids play?
Do you find it awkward to ask questions about gun storage?
Do you even know what to ask or that you should be inquiring before playdates?

The Be SMART campaign is designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child and teen gun deaths and injuries.

Throughout the U.S., an estimated 13 million households with children under the age of 18 contain at least one gun. Not all of these firearms are stored securely: approximately 4.6 million children live in a household with at least one gun that is stored loaded and unlocked. Every year, at least 350 American children under the age of 18 gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else.

Be SMART was created to take action to prevent child access to guns, promote safe storage, and reduce the risk of suicide. The campaign focuses on the importance of conversation, responsible gun storage, and community awareness.

St. Margaret of Scotland encourages parents and caretakers to “Be SMART” and take simple safety steps to help protect children from guns.