Vocabulary — Faith & Ministry
These are the words for this kind of lesson, all on one page: how to spell each word, what it means in simple words, and one sentence to remember it by. You can come back to this page any time.
See every vocabulary page in this school
Account takeover
Spells: Account takeover
What it means: when someone steals or guesses a password or code and types from a real person's actual account.
A sentence to remember it by: Three: a real account gets taken over.
Aging out
Spells: A-g-i-n-g-o-u-t
What it means: leaving foster care because you have reached the age where care ends.
A sentence to remember it by: Aging out means leaving foster care because you have reached the age where care ends.
Alcohol poisoning
Spells: Alcohol poisoning
What it means: a life-threatening reaction to drinking too much.
A sentence to remember it by: Alcohol poisoning — a life-threatening reaction to drinking too much.
Anniversary
Spells: A-n-n-i-v-e-r-s-a-r-y
What it means: a yearly returning date, like a birthday or the date someone died, that can bring feelings back.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ Plan one small kind thing for a hard day coming, like a birthday or anniversary.
Appeals court
Spells: A-p-p-e-a-l-s-c-o-u-r-t
What it means: a court that checks whether a lower court followed the rules.
A sentence to remember it by: Appeals court — a court that checks whether a lower court followed the rules.
Assumption
Spells: A-s-s-u-m-p-t-i-o-n
What it means: a guess about what someone feels or means, treated as fact without asking.
A sentence to remember it by: Assumption — a guess about what someone feels or means, treated as fact without asking.
Avoidance
Spells: A-v-o-i-d-a-n-c-e
What it means: staying away from trouble you noticed: changing your route, keeping distance, and choosing busy, lit places.
A sentence to remember it by: Avoidance — stay away from the trouble you noticed.
Awareness
Spells: A-w-a-r-e-n-e-s-s
What it means: noticing people, places, exits, and changes around you while there is still time to choose.
A sentence to remember it by: Walk it through: Awareness did its job.
Behavior
Spells: B-e-h-a-v-i-o-r
What it means: what a person says and does; the part others can directly see.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Quiet behavior can mean tired, worried, sad, or just thinking.
Behavior plan
Spells: B-e-h-a-v-i-o-r-p-l-a-n
What it means: a written plan that names a problem, the supports offered, and the steps a student will practice.
A sentence to remember it by: A label just sticks to you and follows you into the next classroom, even when your behavior has already changed.
Boundary
Spells: B-o-u-n-d-a-r-y
What it means: a line you set for what you will and will not do, accept, or share.
A sentence to remember it by: Myths vs facts — Boundaries and Peer Pressure Myth: Everyone is doing it.
Breach notification
Spells: Breach notification
What it means: the notice an organization must send to officials and affected people after a breach.
A sentence to remember it by: No break-in — the door was open.
Break away
Spells: B-r-e-a-k-a-w-a-y
What it means: freeing yourself from a grab so you can run to safety — never staying to fight.
A sentence to remember it by: Slow your breathing and unclench your hands.
Broken record
Spells: B-r-o-k-e-n-r-e-c-o-r-d
What it means: repeating the same calm refusal line, unchanged, until the pressure gives up.
A sentence to remember it by: Broken record — repeating the same calm refusal line, unchanged, until the pressure gives up.
Buddy system
Spells: B-u-d-d-y-s-y-s-t-e-m
What it means: pairing with a briefed friend; each of you is the other's exit.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ Choose your buddy for the next event — and brief them.
Bystander
Spells: B-y-s-t-a-n-d-e-r
What it means: someone present who is not the target or organizer; a witness at a hazing scene has a legal duty to report it.
A sentence to remember it by: Protecting friends — the bystander's job Hazing needs an audience that stays quiet.
Caseworker
Spells: C-a-s-e-w-o-r-k-e-r
What it means: an adult assigned to coordinate services and check that a plan is working.
A sentence to remember it by: Caseworker — an adult assigned to coordinate services and check that a plan is working.
Casket
Spells: C-a-s-k-e-t
What it means: the box a person's body rests in for a funeral and burial.
A sentence to remember it by: Casket — the box a person's body rests in for a funeral and burial.
Catfishing
Spells: C-a-t-f-i-s-h-i-n-g
What it means: building a fake online persona to draw someone into a false friendship or romantic relationship.
A sentence to remember it by: Catfishing — building a fake online persona to draw someone into a false friendship or romantic relationship.
Caucus
Spells: C-a-u-c-u-s
What it means: a meeting where a party's members gather, discuss, and show which candidate they support.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ I can explain a primary and a caucus.
Civil law family
Spells: C-i-v-i-l-l-a-w-f-a-m-i-l-y
What it means: the systems built mainly on written codes, where professional judges usually decide.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ Draw two courtrooms: ours, and one from a civil law country.
Code word
Spells: C-o-d-e-w-o-r-d
What it means: a family signal that means "call me and get me out of this."
A sentence to remember it by: Cases & codes to study — Hazing and Prevention A real case, in plain words — Furek v.
Community
Spells: C-o-m-m-u-n-i-t-y
What it means: the people who live in a place and share its streets, schools, and parks.
A sentence to remember it by: Speaking up kindly — meetings, letters, and neighbors Communities build listening into the process.
Confidential
Spells: C-o-n-f-i-d-e-n-t-i-a-l
What it means: kept private (hotlines are confidential, with one limit: if someone is about to be seriously hurt, helpers act to protect life).
A sentence to remember it by: If you are struggling, call or text 988 any time — free, confidential, day or night.
Confinement
Spells: C-o-n-f-i-n-e-m-e-n-t
What it means: forcibly or secretly holding a person against their will.
A sentence to remember it by: (b) Confinement / kidnapping — ch.
Consent (as a defense)
Spells: Consent (as a defense)
What it means: the claim that a person's agreement excuses the conduct; under Massachusetts law, it does not excuse hazing.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: In Massachusetts, consent is not a defense to hazing — the law sees through agreement under pressure.
Consistency check
Spells: Consistency check
What it means: comparing a story over time to see whether its main facts stay the same.
A sentence to remember it by: Consistency check — comparing a story over time to see whether its main facts stay the same.
Consulate
Spells: C-o-n-s-u-l-a-t-e
What it means: a home country's official office abroad, which can be notified if its citizen is detained.
A sentence to remember it by: Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Article 36 (1963).
Cool
Spells: C-o-o-l
What it means: down signal — an agreed word or gesture that means someone needs a short break before talking.
A sentence to remember it by: Cool-down signal — an agreed word or gesture that means someone needs a short break before talking.
Coping tools
Spells: C-o-p-i-n-g-t-o-o-l-s
What it means: healthy actions that help you get through hard feelings (breathing, movement, talking, rest).
A sentence to remember it by: Coping tools — healthy actions that help you get through hard feelings (breathing, movement, talking, rest).
Couch
Spells: C-o-u-c-h
What it means: surfing — moving from couch to couch with no fixed, regular place of your own to sleep.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Homeless Youth Services and McKinney-Vento both count couch-surfing and doubled-up living as homelessness.
Course of conduct
Spells: Course of conduct
What it means: a pattern of acts over time aimed at one person — the shape stalking and harassment laws are built for.
A sentence to remember it by: Know the court door : Massachusetts ch.
Credit
Spells: C-r-e-d-i-t
What it means: the unit of progress you earn by completing a class, counting toward graduation.
A sentence to remember it by: It does not award degrees or diplomas, and it does not grant academic credit.
Crew member
Spells: C-r-e-w-m-e-m-b-e-r
What it means: a pilot or flight attendant whose safety instructions passengers must follow.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: A crew instruction can be ignored if it seems unimportant.
Crisis
Spells: C-r-i-s-i-s
What it means: a moment when feelings or danger are too much to handle alone and help is needed right away.
A sentence to remember it by: You do not have to carry someone else's crisis alone.
Custody
Spells: C-u-s-t-o-d-y
What it means: being held by police so a reasonable person would not feel free to leave.
A sentence to remember it by: Supreme Court 2011) — a child's age informs the Miranda custody analysis.
CyberTipline
Spells: C-y-b-e-r-T-i-p-l-i-n-e
What it means: the national reporting system, run by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, for online exploitation of children.
A sentence to remember it by: Adults and platforms: adults help with identity confirmation, school and police reports, and CyberTipline reports where exploitation is involved.
Data breach
Spells: D-a-t-a-b-r-e-a-c-h
What it means: when information an organization held is taken, copied, or seen by someone never supposed to have it.
A sentence to remember it by: Resources to keep — Data Breaches 911 — in danger now.
Data minimization
Spells: Data minimization
What it means: collecting only the information a purpose needs.
A sentence to remember it by: Data minimization — collecting only the information a purpose needs.
De
Spells: D-e
What it means: escalation — calm words, space, and time that help a tense moment get smaller.
A sentence to remember it by: Your progress stays on your device.
Death
Spells: D-e-a-t-h
What it means: when a person's body stops working and does not start again; it is not sleep.
A sentence to remember it by: Think it through — Death & Grief Maya's grandmother died last weekend.
Deception
Spells: D-e-c-e-p-t-i-o-n
What it means: trying to make someone believe something that is not true.
A sentence to remember it by: Sources Bond & DePaulo, "Accuracy of Deception Judgments" — Personality and Social Psychology Review (2006) — average truth/lie accuracy of about 54 percent.
Detention (school)
Spells: Detention (school)
What it means: staying after school or during a set period as a school consequence; different from court detention.
A sentence to remember it by: Detention (school) — staying after school or during a set period as a school consequence; different from court detention.
DHS TRIP
Spells: D-H-S-T-R-I-P
What it means: the family's fix-it channel for recurring screening problems; it can issue a Redress Number.
A sentence to remember it by: Department of Homeland Security — dhs.gov/trip — DHS TRIP, the family fix-it channel.
Digital footprint
Spells: Digital footprint
What it means: the traces you leave online: posts, photos, messages, comments, location tags.
A sentence to remember it by: Together they are your digital footprint .
Direct identifier
Spells: Direct identifier
What it means: information that points to one person on its own, such as an ID number.
A sentence to remember it by: Direct identifier — information that points to one person on its own, such as an ID number.
Discharge plan
Spells: D-i-s-c-h-a-r-g-e-p-l-a-n
What it means: the plan made before you leave a hospital or facility, listing follow-up appointments and who to call.
Where you meet it: in the lesson “Coming Home and Going Back (Year 1 Foundations)” in this school.
Discipline record
Spells: Discipline record
What it means: a school's record of incidents and consequences.
A sentence to remember it by: Discipline record — a school's record of incidents and consequences.
Discrimination
Spells: D-i-s-c-r-i-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: treating someone unfairly because of the group they belong to.
A sentence to remember it by: Racism is prejudice and discrimination aimed at people because of their race.
Doubled up
Spells: D-o-u-b-l-e-d-u-p
What it means: staying with other people because your family lost housing or cannot afford a place.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Homeless Youth Services and McKinney-Vento both count couch-surfing and doubled-up living as homelessness.
Doxxing
Spells: D-o-x-x-i-n-g
What it means: publishing someone's private information, like a home address, to invite harassment or harm.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Doxxing's wrong is the invitation to harass or harm.
Duty to act
Spells: D-u-t-y-t-o-a-c-t
What it means: a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps, from your role or a danger you created.
A sentence to remember it by: This is the duty-to-act case, not a driving or stranding case.
Duty to report
Spells: D-u-t-y-t-o-r-e-p-o-r-t
What it means: the legal obligation to report hazing you witness to law enforcement as soon as you safely can.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws) — the anti-hazing law: hazing made a crime, witnesses' duty to report, schools' duties.
Elector
Spells: E-l-e-c-t-o-r
What it means: a person chosen by a state to cast one of its Electoral College votes.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: The winner reaches 270 electoral votes.
Electoral College
Spells: Electoral College
What it means: the group of 538 electors whose votes officially elect the President; 270 are needed to win.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: The winner reaches 270 electoral votes.
Empathy
Spells: E-m-p-a-t-h-y
What it means: trying to understand what another person sees and feels, even when you see it differently.
A sentence to remember it by: Empathy — trying to understand what another person sees and feels, even when you see it differently.
Escalation
Spells: E-s-c-a-l-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: when words or actions make a conflict bigger and harder to stop.
A sentence to remember it by: De-escalation — calm words, space, and time that help a tense moment get smaller.
Escape
Spells: E-s-c-a-p-e
What it means: getting free and getting away to a safe adult or a safe place; the goal of any physical move in this course.
A sentence to remember it by: Voice, escape, and help come first.
Evidence
Spells: E-v-i-d-e-n-c-e
What it means: saved proof: screenshots with accounts, dates, and times, kept in order.
A sentence to remember it by: Evidence — saved proof: screenshots with accounts, dates, and times, kept in order.
Exclusion
Spells: E-x-c-l-u-s-i-o-n
What it means: leaving someone out because of who they are.
A sentence to remember it by: Removing her from the chat is exclusion.
Exit plan
Spells: E-x-i-t-p-l-a-n
What it means: a pre-arranged way out — a code word, a call, a ride — built before it is needed.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: An exit plan needs a perfect family.
Face
Spells: F-a-c-e
What it means: saving exit — a way out that lets the other person leave without being embarrassed.
A sentence to remember it by: Explain why insults escalate, and how I-language and a face-saving exit de-escalate.
Fake profile
Spells: F-a-k-e-p-r-o-f-i-l-e
What it means: an account built with someone else's copied photos and details, or an invented identity, controlled by a different person.
A sentence to remember it by: Arguing with the fake account in public feeds it your audience.
Feelings
Spells: F-e-e-l-i-n-g-s
What it means: what a person feels inside, such as anger, fear, embarrassment, or joy.
A sentence to remember it by: Listening to a feeling is smart.
Follow
Spells: F-o-l-l-o-w
What it means: up appointment — a check-in visit scheduled after you come home, to see how you are doing.
A sentence to remember it by: If you learn with extra support, that support follows you.
Funeral
Spells: F-u-n-e-r-a-l
What it means: a gathering to say goodbye to a person who died and honor their life.
A sentence to remember it by: Casket — the box a person's body rests in for a funeral and burial.
Good Samaritan law
Spells: Good Samaritan law
What it means: here, § 34A's protection for seeking medical help for an overdose in good faith.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws) — Good Samaritan overdose protection.
Grief
Spells: G-r-i-e-f
What it means: the feelings a person goes through after someone they love dies.
A sentence to remember it by: None of this means you are doing grief wrong.
Grooming
Spells: G-r-o-o-m-i-n-g
What it means: the slow build-up of gifts, attention, and secrecy used to gain a hold over a young person.
A sentence to remember it by: Experts call the slow build-up grooming .
Guidance counselor
Spells: Guidance counselor
What it means: the school adult who helps with schedules, classes, and landing back.
A sentence to remember it by: Guidance counselor — the school adult who helps with schedules, classes, and landing back.
Habit
Spells: H-a-b-i-t
What it means: a behavior repeated so often that it starts with little deciding.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: Changing a habit takes huge willpower.
Handbook
Spells: H-a-n-d-b-o-o-k
What it means: the school's written rules and procedures for students and families.
A sentence to remember it by: Handbook — the school's written rules and procedures for students and families.
Harassment prevention order
Spells: Harassment prevention order
What it means: a ch. 258E court order: stop contacting someone; stay away from their home and school or workplace.
A sentence to remember it by: Harassment prevention order — a ch.
Hazing
Spells: H-a-z-i-n-g
What it means: when joining or staying in a group costs humiliation, pain, exhaustion, or danger, whatever the person says about agreeing.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ Read your school handbook's hazing rule and find where reports go.
Homeless education liaison
Spells: Homeless education liaison
What it means: the named staff member in every district who enrolls and supports students without stable housing.
A sentence to remember it by: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, education provisions (U.S.
I-language
Spells: I---l-a-n-g-u-a-g-e
What it means: saying what you need, starting with "I," such as "I need space," instead of blaming.
A sentence to remember it by: Explain why insults escalate, and how I-language and a face-saving exit de-escalate.
Immigration status
Spells: Immigration status
What it means: the government's record of how a person is allowed to be in the United States.
A sentence to remember it by: Only lawyers and DOJ-accredited representatives may charge for immigration legal help.
Impersonation
Spells: I-m-p-e-r-s-o-n-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: pretending to be someone else — a real person, a made-up kid, or an official — to trick people into trusting, sharing, paying, or obeying.
A sentence to remember it by: Report it in the app as impersonation.
Implementation
Spells: I-m-p-l-e-m-e-n-t-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: the work of actually carrying out a decision after it is made.
A sentence to remember it by: Board of Education and explain what implementation means.
Inauguration
Spells: I-n-a-u-g-u-r-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: the ceremony where the new President swears the oath, on January 20.
A sentence to remember it by: Inauguration — the ceremony where the new President swears the oath, on January 20.
Incapacitated
Spells: I-n-c-a-p-a-c-i-t-a-t-e-d
What it means: unable to help oneself, from drink, drugs, illness, or sleep.
A sentence to remember it by: Explain the duty to an incapacitated passenger, and § 34A's protection.
Independent source
Spells: Independent source
What it means: a place you check that does not just repeat the first story, so it can confirm or disprove it.
A sentence to remember it by: Independent source — a place you check that does not just repeat the first story, so it can confirm or disprove it.
Initiation
Spells: I-n-i-t-i-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: becoming a member of a group; the stage when hazing most often happens.
A sentence to remember it by: Initiation — becoming a member of a group; the stage when hazing most often happens.
International law
Spells: International law
What it means: the rules countries have agreed to follow with each other.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: International law never affects regular people.
Interpreter
Spells: I-n-t-e-r-p-r-e-t-e-r
What it means: a trained person who carries words exactly between languages; a professional's job for legal and medical matters.
A sentence to remember it by: Asking for an interpreter protects your family.
Judicial review
Spells: J-u-d-i-c-i-a-l-r-e-v-i-e-w
What it means: a court's power to strike down a law that conflicts with the constitution.
A sentence to remember it by: Judicial review — a court's power to strike down a law that conflicts with the constitution.
Jury
Spells: J-u-r-y
What it means: ordinary citizens who listen to a case and decide what happened.
A sentence to remember it by: Constitution of the United States — National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution) — Article III and jury-trial rights (Part 1).
Juvenile record
Spells: J-u-v-e-n-i-l-e-r-e-c-o-r-d
What it means: a court or police record about a young person, under extra legal protections.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: Juvenile records are public like adult records.
Label
Spells: L-a-b-e-l
What it means: a word stuck on a whole person ("lazy," "difficult") instead of a fact about a behavior.
A sentence to remember it by: Kindly means noticing behavior , not labels.
Lease
Spells: L-e-a-s-e
What it means: a contract: a landlord promises a tenant a home for a set time, for rent.
A sentence to remember it by: Lease — a contract: a landlord promises a tenant a home for a set time, for rent.
Legal family
Spells: L-e-g-a-l-f-a-m-i-l-y
What it means: a group of countries whose legal systems are built the same basic way.
A sentence to remember it by: Educational information only, not legal advice.
Location sharing
Spells: Location sharing
What it means: an app feature showing others where your phone is; a map of your life.
A sentence to remember it by: Keep location sharing off except, if your family uses it, with a parent or caregiver.
Loss
Spells: L-o-s-s
What it means: what you no longer have when someone dies, including their place in daily life.
A sentence to remember it by: Each loss is real, and each deserves room.
Mandated reporter
Spells: Mandated reporter
What it means: a professional (teacher, counselor, nurse, coach, and others) who is required by law to report it when a child may be abused or neglected. If you tell them, they must pass it to people who investigate and help. That is a good thing — it means your words carry weight.
Where you meet it: in the lesson “Minister Destiny Stand in Faith District” in this school.
McKinney
Spells: M-c-K-i-n-n-e-y
What it means: Vento Act — the federal law protecting the school rights of students who lack fixed, regular, adequate housing.
A sentence to remember it by: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, education provisions (U.S.
Memorial
Spells: M-e-m-o-r-i-a-l
What it means: a gathering or object remembering a person.
A sentence to remember it by: Memorial — a gathering or object remembering a person.
Mixed
Spells: M-i-x-e-d
What it means: status family — a family whose members hold different statuses.
A sentence to remember it by: Mixed-status family — a family whose members hold different statuses.
National convention
Spells: National convention
What it means: the big meeting where a party officially chooses its candidate.
A sentence to remember it by: That meeting, in the summer, is the national convention .
Natural
Spells: N-a-t-u-r-a-l
What it means: born citizen — a citizen of the United States from birth; one of the three requirements for President.
A sentence to remember it by: A President must be: A natural-born citizen — a citizen of the United States from birth.
Naturalization
Spells: N-a-t-u-r-a-l-i-z-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: the process by which a person not born a U.S. citizen becomes one.
A sentence to remember it by: Naturalization — the process by which a person not born a U.S.
Neglect
Spells: N-e-g-l-e-c-t
What it means: when a child's basic needs (food, shelter, supervision, medical care) are not being met.
A sentence to remember it by: Neglect — when a child's basic needs (food, shelter, supervision, medical care) are not being met.
Nonviolence
Spells: N-o-n-v-i-o-l-e-n-c-e
What it means: staying safe and solving conflict without hurting anyone, in body or words.
A sentence to remember it by: Nonviolence — staying safe and solving conflict without hurting anyone, in body or words.
Notario fraud
Spells: N-o-t-a-r-i-o-f-r-a-u-d
What it means: the scam in which an unqualified helper charges for immigration legal help only a lawyer or accredited representative may provide.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: A notario in the U.S.
Pat
Spells: P-a-t
What it means: down — a careful check by an officer's hands over clothing; modified steps for children 12 and under make one less likely.
A sentence to remember it by: Level: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) · Youth school · working rank on completion path: Freshman → Sophomore.
Pattern
Spells: P-a-t-t-e-r-n
What it means: something that repeats across days or weeks, in a way you could point to and count.
A sentence to remember it by: One time is never a pattern.
Pause
Spells: P-a-u-s-e
What it means: a short, deliberate stop between feeling something and acting on it.
A sentence to remember it by: A pause lets you choose on purpose.
Peer pressure
Spells: P-e-e-r-p-r-e-s-s-u-r-e
What it means: group influence to do what the group does — by words, dares, exclusion, or pile-ons.
A sentence to remember it by: Myths vs facts — Boundaries and Peer Pressure Myth: Everyone is doing it.
Permanent resident
Spells: Permanent resident
What it means: a person allowed to live and work here permanently; a green card holder.
A sentence to remember it by: Permanent resident — a person allowed to live and work here permanently; a green card holder.
Personally identifiable information (PII)
Spells: Personally identifiable information (PII)
What it means: information that can identify one specific person, alone or combined.
A sentence to remember it by: Personally identifiable information (PII) — information that can identify one specific person, alone or combined.
Perspective
Spells: P-e-r-s-p-e-c-t-i-v-e
What it means: what a person sees and believes; their side of the story, built from everything they have lived.
A sentence to remember it by: Perspective — their side of the story Your perspective is the view from your life.
Phishing
Spells: P-h-i-s-h-i-n-g
What it means: a fake message impersonating a real organization to trick you into revealing information.
A sentence to remember it by: Phishing — a fake message impersonating a real organization to trick you into revealing information.
Pilot in command
Spells: P-i-l-o-t-i-n-c-o-m-m-a-n-d
What it means: the captain, the final authority for the aircraft's operation.
A sentence to remember it by: Pilot in command — the captain, the final authority for the aircraft's operation.
Political party
Spells: P-o-l-i-t-i-c-a-l-p-a-r-t-y
What it means: a large group of people who share ideas about how the country should be run.
A sentence to remember it by: Political party — a large group of people who share ideas about how the country should be run.
Prejudice
Spells: P-r-e-j-u-d-i-c-e
What it means: judging a person because of the group they belong to.
A sentence to remember it by: Racism is prejudice and discrimination aimed at people because of their race.
Pressure tactic
Spells: P-r-e-s-s-u-r-e-t-a-c-t-i-c
What it means: a maneuver that manufactures "agreement," like secrecy rules or slow escalation.
A sentence to remember it by: Childhelp: 1-800-422-4453 — help if an adult is pressuring or hurting you.
Primary
Spells: P-r-i-m-a-r-y
What it means: an election where a party's members vote by ballot to choose their candidate.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ I can explain a primary and a caucus.
Private information
Spells: Private information
What it means: facts like your school, address, routine, and live location that others do not need.
A sentence to remember it by: Before you start This space is private.
Probation officer
Spells: Probation officer
What it means: the officer a young person returning from custody checks in with.
A sentence to remember it by: Probation officer — the officer a young person returning from custody checks in with.
Public comment
Spells: P-u-b-l-i-c-c-o-m-m-e-n-t
What it means: the part of a meeting when community members may speak to the deciders.
A sentence to remember it by: Public meeting — a government meeting anyone may attend and watch.
Public meeting
Spells: P-u-b-l-i-c-m-e-e-t-i-n-g
What it means: a government meeting anyone may attend and watch.
A sentence to remember it by: Public meeting — a government meeting anyone may attend and watch.
Racism
Spells: R-a-c-i-s-m
What it means: prejudice and discrimination aimed at people because of their race.
A sentence to remember it by: Racism is prejudice and discrimination aimed at people because of their race.
Reckless endangerment
Spells: Reckless endangerment
What it means: wantonly or recklessly creating a serious risk of harm.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws) — reckless endangerment of a child.
Red flag
Spells: R-e-d-f-l-a-g
What it means: a warning sign that something is wrong or unsafe.
A sentence to remember it by: Red flag — a warning sign that something is wrong or unsafe.
Redress Number
Spells: R-e-d-r-e-s-s-N-u-m-b-e-r
What it means: a number added to future reservations so screening mix-ups happen less often.
A sentence to remember it by: It can give a traveler a Redress Number for future reservations.
Representative
Spells: R-e-p-r-e-s-e-n-t-a-t-i-v-e
What it means: a person elected to speak and vote for an area in a legislature.
A sentence to remember it by: Representative — a person elected to speak and vote for an area in a legislature.
Restore
Spells: R-e-s-t-o-r-e
What it means: to fix what can be fixed after harm, such as returning property or making a sincere apology.
A sentence to remember it by: Repair after trouble — how trust is rebuilt Repair has three parts: acknowledge, restore, and change.
Routine
Spells: R-o-u-t-i-n-e
What it means: things you do in the same order at the same time, until they run almost by themselves.
A sentence to remember it by: Good routines are not about being perfect.
Rumor
Spells: R-u-m-o-r
What it means: a story passed person to person without proof; repeating it does not make it true.
A sentence to remember it by: Rumor — a story passed person to person without proof; repeating it does not make it true.
Running mate
Spells: R-u-n-n-i-n-g-m-a-t-e
What it means: the person a candidate chooses to run for Vice President on the same ticket.
A sentence to remember it by: Running mate — the person a candidate chooses to run for Vice President on the same ticket.
Safe adult
Spells: S-a-f-e-a-d-u-l-t
What it means: an adult who believes you and will act to help.
A sentence to remember it by: An upstander does something safe and helpful.
Safe haven
Spells: S-a-f-e-h-a-v-e-n
What it means: a place with people who can help, such as a school, library, or open business.
A sentence to remember it by: Nonviolence — staying safe and solving conflict without hurting anyone, in body or words.
Safety plan
Spells: S-a-f-e-t-y-p-l-a-n
What it means: a plan you make ahead of time: where to go, who to call, what to say.
A sentence to remember it by: What "safe" actually means Safe does not mean perfect.
Safety plan (personal)
Spells: Safety plan (personal)
What it means: your own written plan: warning signs, tools, people, places, and help lines.
A sentence to remember it by: My places — somewhere I can go and feel safer.
School committee
Spells: School committee
What it means: the elected group that makes decisions about a town's public schools.
A sentence to remember it by: There are no doors here to the adult schools.
School counselor
Spells: School counselor
What it means: a school staff member whose job is helping students with hard feelings.
A sentence to remember it by: There are no doors here to the adult schools.
School nurse
Spells: S-c-h-o-o-l-n-u-r-s-e
What it means: the school health adult who helps with health needs during the day.
A sentence to remember it by: There are no doors here to the adult schools.
School of origin
Spells: S-c-h-o-o-l-o-f-o-r-i-g-i-n
What it means: the school you attended before your housing changed, or were last enrolled in.
A sentence to remember it by: Its core rights: Stay in your school.
Screening
Spells: S-c-r-e-e-n-i-n-g
What it means: the check of every passenger and bag before the secure area.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: Extra screening means you are in trouble.
Sealing
Spells: S-e-a-l-i-n-g
What it means: closing a record off by law so it is reported as "no record" to most who ask.
A sentence to remember it by: 276, § 100B (Massachusetts General Laws) — sealing of delinquency records; verified at malegislature.gov (https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleII/Chapter276/Section100B).
Second place
Spells: S-e-c-o-n-d-p-l-a-c-e
What it means: a private place a person tries to get you to move to, away from witnesses; the answer is always no.
A sentence to remember it by: The second you are free, you run.
Secure area
Spells: S-e-c-u-r-e-a-r-e-a
What it means: the part of the airport past the checkpoint, for screened people only.
A sentence to remember it by: Department of Homeland Security — dhs.gov/trip — DHS TRIP, the family fix-it channel.
Security freeze
Spells: S-e-c-u-r-i-t-y-f-r-e-e-z-e
What it means: a free lock on a credit file so new accounts cannot be opened in that name until lifted.
A sentence to remember it by: It builds on the PII and Cyber Security Awareness units.
Segregation
Spells: S-e-g-r-e-g-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: keeping groups of people apart by rule or law.
A sentence to remember it by: Segregation — keeping groups of people apart by rule or law.
Sensitive personal information
Spells: Sensitive personal information
What it means: identifying information whose misuse can do serious harm, such as ID numbers and birth dates.
A sentence to remember it by: Sensitive personal information — identifying information whose misuse can do serious harm, such as ID numbers and birth dates.
Sextortion
Spells: S-e-x-t-o-r-t-i-o-n
What it means: an adult threatening a young person over images; the adult's crime, never the young person's fault.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: A young person in sextortion will be in trouble and should stay quiet.
Sign
Spells: S-i-g-n
What it means: in code — a code sent to your phone or email to prove a sign-in is really you; it works like a key and is never shared.
A sentence to remember it by: Turn on the strongest sign-in protection your apps offer.
Situational awareness
Spells: Situational awareness
What it means: noticing people, places, and changes around you while you can still choose.
A sentence to remember it by: NOTICE — paying attention early Situational awareness means noticing what is around you while you still have choices.
Slur
Spells: S-l-u-r
What it means: a cruel word aimed at a person's race or background.
A sentence to remember it by: Do not laugh along, repeat the slur, or pass the post on.
Small step
Spells: S-m-a-l-l-s-t-e-p
What it means: one change inside a pattern, small enough to actually do tomorrow.
A sentence to remember it by: What is the pattern, and what is one small step?
Stranded
Spells: S-t-r-a-n-d-e-d
What it means: left with no safe way home and no way to reach help.
A sentence to remember it by: Explain what being stranded exposes a person to.
Student record
Spells: S-t-u-d-e-n-t-r-e-c-o-r-d
What it means: the information a school keeps about you, protected by privacy laws.
A sentence to remember it by: Students move at their own pace.
Substantial risk
Spells: Substantial risk
What it means: a real, serious risk, not a small one.
A sentence to remember it by: Substantial risk — a real, serious risk, not a small one.
Support network
Spells: S-u-p-p-o-r-t-n-e-t-w-o-r-k
What it means: all the people and services you can turn to; stronger than any single person.
A sentence to remember it by: Support network — all the people and services you can turn to; stronger than any single person.
Support plan
Spells: S-u-p-p-o-r-t-p-l-a-n
What it means: a written school plan for help you learn with, such as an IEP or 504 plan.
A sentence to remember it by: 988 (call or text) — support any time.
Suspension
Spells: S-u-s-p-e-n-s-i-o-n
What it means: being sent home from school for a set time because of a serious rule issue.
Where you meet it: in the lesson “Minister Destiny Stand in Faith District” in this school.
Swatting
Spells: S-w-a-t-t-i-n-g
What it means: a fake emergency report meant to send police rushing to an innocent person's home; a dangerous crime, never a prank.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: Swatting is a funny prank.
Threat
Spells: T-h-r-e-a-t
What it means: a serious message promising to hurt someone; online threats can be crimes.
A sentence to remember it by: Code) — interstate threats to kidnap or injure.
Three
Spells: T-h-r-e-e
What it means: lens check — the questions to ask before reacting: What do I know? What do I feel? What will I do?
A sentence to remember it by: Three-lens check — the questions to ask before reacting: What do I know?
Town or city government
Spells: Town or city government
What it means: local leaders and workers who run services like roads, lights, and parks.
A sentence to remember it by: Town or city government handles streets, crosswalks, streetlights, parks, and trash.
Trafficking
Spells: T-r-a-f-f-i-c-k-i-n-g
What it means: trapping or controlling a person through grooming and false promises, for gain.
A sentence to remember it by: Possible trafficking: National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888 .
Treaty
Spells: T-r-e-a-t-y
What it means: a written agreement between countries that they promise to keep.
A sentence to remember it by: Treaty — a written agreement between countries that they promise to keep.
Trigger
Spells: T-r-i-g-g-e-r
What it means: what comes right before a behavior: a place, a feeling, or a time of day that starts the loop.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Habits run on triggers and loops.
Trusted adult
Spells: T-r-u-s-t-e-d-a-d-u-l-t
What it means: an adult who believes you, does not hurt you, and will act to help.
A sentence to remember it by: Fact: Telling a trusted adult early is how small problems get fixed.
TSA officer
Spells: T-S-A-o-f-f-i-c-e-r
What it means: the officer who runs screening at the checkpoint.
A sentence to remember it by: TSA officer — the officer who runs screening at the checkpoint.
Two
Spells: T-w-o
What it means: factor authentication — a second proof of identity after the password, such as a code on your own device.
A sentence to remember it by: Change passwords on accounts connected to the breach, make each one different, and turn on two-factor authentication.
Unaccompanied youth
Spells: Unaccompanied youth
What it means: a young person not in a parent or guardian's physical custody who lacks a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence.
A sentence to remember it by: An unaccompanied youth holds these same rights alone.
United Nations
Spells: U-n-i-t-e-d-N-a-t-i-o-n-s
What it means: the organization of 193 member countries, founded in 1945.
A sentence to remember it by: Myth: The United Nations is a world government.
Upstander
Spells: U-p-s-t-a-n-d-e-r
What it means: a person who responds to unfair treatment with a safe, helpful action.
A sentence to remember it by: An upstander does something safe and helpful.
Verbal boundary
Spells: V-e-r-b-a-l-b-o-u-n-d-a-r-y
What it means: a loud, clear spoken line, such as "No! Stay back!", that tells a person to stop and tells others something is wrong.
A sentence to remember it by: Verbal boundary — a loud, clear spoken line, such as "No!
Verification
Spells: V-e-r-i-f-i-c-a-t-i-o-n
What it means: checking who someone is through a different, trusted channel — never through the links or numbers the suspicious account itself provides.
A sentence to remember it by: What to Do — Protect Yourself, Preserve Evidence, and Report The verification habit — your master move.
Visa
Spells: V-i-s-a
What it means: permission to be in the country for a set time and purpose, such as studying.
A sentence to remember it by: Others are here on visas for a set time and purpose, like studying or a job.
Vote
Spells: V-o-t-e
What it means: the official way people choose their leaders.
A sentence to remember it by: Vote — the official way people choose their leaders.