In the process of providing D’Evelyn students an outstanding education that will prepare them for a happy and full life, the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration bears the important responsibility of maintaining a safe, secure, and orderly school environment for all our students during each school day. Safety and security are particularly in the forefront of the minds of school leaders in Jefferson County as we approach April 20th, which this year marks the 20th anniversary of the senseless tragedy at Columbine High School. The D’Evelyn faculty, staff, counselors, and administration maintain an acute focus on school safety and security as well as student well-being. We are fortunate to have a faculty with so many dedicated and talented professionals. We are also fortunate to have the services of two full-time Campus Supervisors, Mike Dobrowski and Kim Racine, and the support of Jeffco Sheriff Deputy Greg Everhart, all of whom are prominently involved in safety planning, decision-making, and response. Education and preparation are two key components of maintaining a safe learning environment for all students. As a result, we lead frequent drills in our school to help students and staff prepare for emergency response, in the unfortunate event that response is required during a real emergency. One type of drill is a lockdown drill, where students and adults in the building respond to our lockdown alarm by quickly moving to a secure location behind a locked door, out of sight. On Monday, April 29th, during 7th hour, we will administer our 2nd lockdown drill of the school year. During the drill, we have asked teachers to discuss unique safety considerations that are more “off script” than the traditional response to a lockdown situation. As examples, teachers and students will discuss matters like what to do if a student is in the hallway or bathroom, or what to do if they are outside during an emergency. We are confident that these discussions will provide a great learning opportunity for our students in our efforts to prepare for potential emergencies. I share this with parents and families for a variety of reasons. Primary among them, school safety and security are most effective when all community members are engaged and focused on the matter. I cannot predict how all students will respond to conversations about safety that can be personal, emotional, and/or upsetting. I encourage parents to have open conversations with students about school safety, but after this lockdown drill, to check in with their students to see what they learned and offer any additional support as needed. Perhaps most importantly, we ask for the partnership of all students, parents, and families in the maintenance of a safe and secure learning environment. If you ever have a concern about the safety or well-being of your child or another D’Evelyn student, please contact the most appropriate D’Evelyn faculty/staff member or our front office immediately. We also have the valuable support of the Safe2Tell system, and concerns about student safety and security can be anonymously reported through Safe2Tell: https://safe2tell.org/ 1-877-542-7233 Thank you for your partnership during the D’Evelyn educational experience of your child(ren). Your consistent support and encouragement are an important component of the success of our great school. Comments are closed.
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