Dear Parents/Guardians,
Thursday, Sept 29th - Orange
Shirt Day at School
This week we are recognizing National Day
for Truth and Reconciliation. As you know schools are closed on Friday for
this. Everyone is invited to wear an
orange shirt on Thursday in recognition of this important day. We wear orange shirts to remember that every
child matters. We honour First Nations
people and reflect on how every child is special and deserves respect. Classes
have been taking part in age-appropriate activities this week to learn more
about First Nations people.
School Pictures – October 4th
A School Picture date has been confirmed.
It will be next week on October 4th.
An information card will go home this week with background choices.
Please return as soon as possible.
Fired drill and lockdown procedures
As part of the school’s emergency
plans, we are required to practice fire drill and lockdown procedures. Fire
drills have already taken place and this week a lockdown will be practiced on Thursday. A lockdown is used when there is the possibility of danger to students
and staff. This is done by moving
students to a safe location in the building. It is presented in a way that does
not promote fear, but rather a sense of security. During a lockdown students
will move to a safe spot (close together) with their teacher in the classroom.
Students wait quietly in this place for any needed direction. Please see below for
more information about lockdowns. If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact the school.
Mrs. Wilmot
Principal
Notice to Parents – School Safety and Security
This information has
been provided through the RCMP in collaboration with the school district.
Staff and students are
familiar with lockdowns, but we wish to increase your knowledge of our
procedures.
It is important to
understand that school staff will implement a lockdown and call police if/and
when there is any reason to believe that imminent danger to students and staff
may exist. At this stage, everyone in the school will move to a secure
location, safe from harm. Police will respond to the school and no one will
enter or leave, until the situation is resolved.
The first instinct of
parents/guardians is to either phone the school directly or your child, or to go
directly to the school. You are asked
not to do any of these, but instead to understand and follow the procedures
outlined in this letter.
Roadways need to be
kept clear for responding emergency vehicles, and parents and others attempting
to drive to the school can slow police and other emergency responders from
getting to and securing the area as quickly as possible. Therefore, if you hear that a lockdown
is occurring at your child’s school, do not go to the school. Instead, please
wait for messages from the school or the district. In some instances a staging area could be
used. This area/location would be
communicated to parents and parents could go there to receive information
provided by the police or school representatives. This location is selected as
being far enough from the school to maximize your safety and that of others.
Please be assured that
every effort will be made to keep you informed. Experience has shown that
incorrect information often circulates during an event when it does not come
directly from the police or school representatives. Please note that, for safety reasons, some
situations may require that some information be withheld until the situation is
resolved. (In lockdown situations you may also contact the school district by calling
856-3222.)
Aside from lockdown
procedures, your child’s school may also implement a precautionary “Hold &
Secure” if there is an unrelated emergency situation occurring outside the
building or in the neighbourhood that could potentially present a danger to the
school. In this situation all doors to the school are locked and monitored.
Classes will generally continue but no one will be allowed to enter or leave
the building until the situation is resolved. We also ask that you do NOT go to
the school unless asked to do so by school staff.
We encourage you to
discuss school safety with your child and to address any concerns they may have.
If you have any questions about this or any other issue related to the safety
and security of the school please contact the school at 734-3700.