December 17, 2012
Dear Highlander Family,
Like each of you, I hugged both of my girls a little tighter over the weekend and have wondered throughout the day if they were okay. I know that it is probably callous to pray for this deep empty feeling to go away, but as parents we all long for days where innocence and children are protected. So, realizing the questions and concerns you must be experiencing, I wanted to connect with you as your child’s principal.
We started the day today as a staff. We met and reviewed questions that had been submitted throughout the weekend. We discussed concerns and made sure everyone was on the same page. We made sure that every adult understood their own role in a potentially dangerous situation. Staff members were asked to refrain from having conversations as a class about the tragedy in Connecticut. Some parents have chosen not to share with their children, and we want to respect those wishes. Many students came in with questions and concerns. Students who appeared to need more support or felt like they really needed to talk were encouraged to visit with our school counselor, and those parents were notified. We will continue to address the individual needs of the students in this way. If you know your child is having a hard time, please contact his/her teacher, the counselor or the office staff.
The Main Office/front doors will continue to be the only doors open to enter the building during the school day. We will continue to utilize the Raptor System to sign-in guests. If you are a guest at McAuliffe, please have your driver’s license ready to be scanned. With the upcoming holiday parties, you may want to allow for additional time to get in and get scanned. We will scan every guest who has not been entered into the system.
We will continue to practice all safety drills and work with first responders to ensure that we are prepared for inclement weather or any other situation that might compromise the safety of our children and staff. On Tuesday, we will have students walk through the Lock-Down procedures. We do not want to scare them, but we do want them to be familiar with where to go and what to expect in a lock-down situation. Most students can share easily with you what his/her class does. They may not use the actual language though. We want our students to feel safe.
One of our wonderful dads offered to spear-head the Watch D.O.G.S. program. Watch D.O.G.S. is “the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father figures in order to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security. Today, more than 2276 active programs in 41 states participate in the WATCH D.O.G.S. Program.” WatchD.O.G.S. are “fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day a year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or other administrator.” We will be sending home information about the program very soon. If you have questions, please let me know.
Finally, I want to thank you for trusting your most prized possession with us each day. Your child’s safety is paramount. Every child that walks through those doors is special, and we will do everything we can to provide them the safe, secure environment that they deserve. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email. Thank you. There is no doubt that we are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community. Thank you for your support and kindness. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. You are an important part of this McAuliffe family. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Mattingly
Principal
http://www.onenewspage.us/n/US/74rkhzxt7/PBS-Offers-Ideas-About-Talking-To-Your-Kids.htm
Practical Suggestions for Assisting Children in the Aftermath of a Tragedy ( http://www.aaets.org/practicalsuggestionschildren.pdf<https://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaaets%2Eorg%2Fpracticalsuggestionschildren%2Epdf&urlhash=C9dE&_t=tracking_anet
- Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response
- How Do People Respond During Traumatic Exposure?
- Helpful Information During and After a Traumatic Event ( http://www.aaets.org/helpful.pdf<https://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaaets%2Eorg%2Fhelpful%2Epdf&urlhash=Rnxk&_t=tracking_anet> )
