Next week, our school district will observe our annual School Safety Week. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and these drills are a critical part of ensuring everyone is prepared.
During this week, all of our schools will practice required safety drills. We collaborate closely with local law enforcement, fire departments, and other emergency response partners to make sure our procedures are effective and aligned with the best practices for our community.
Every drill is conducted with our students’ well-being in mind. Our teachers will explain the procedures in an age-appropriate way. We use a trauma-informed approach, which means we focus on teaching students what to do without creating fear or concern. Every drill will begin with an announcement: "This is a drill." Our goal is to make these exercises feel routine and instructional, not frightening.
As a reminder, during lockdown drills, the district’s Blue Light System will be activated. The blue lights, located outside each building’s entrance, provide a visual cue that a lockdown has been initiated. If families or community members are visiting our schools and you see the blue lights activated outside the building, you should return to your vehicle and wait for the announcement over the loudspeaker indicating the end of the drill. No visitors will be allowed into the building during a lockdown procedure.
Thank you for your partnership in helping our students understand the importance of these safety practices. We believe that by working together, we can create the safest possible learning environment for everyone.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s principal.