October is Safety Preparedness Month, and this is the time when we review and improve our policies and procedures to better ensure the safety of our students and staff. Training for students takes into account age-appropriate considerations.
Tomorrow afternoon, students in grades 4-8 will listen to a presentation about dangerous drugs and substances. Vince Deocampo, our safety consultant, will conduct the presentation. As you are aware, there has been an increase in dangerous drugs, particularly fentanyl, coming into the country. It is prudent to provide our children with this knowledge so that they do not mistakenly consume a pill, which may be disguised as candy, with a potential lethal effect.
In compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego are required to introduce the topic of safe environments to their classes each year. In this discussion, teachers will remind students that 1) We are all created in God’s image, 2) Our bodies are special and sacred, 3) No one has the right to treat us in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable, scared, or worried. Each classroom has a NO-GO-TELL poster displayed, reminding students to first say NO, if someone is acting inappropriately. If that doesn’t work, they should try to GO away from the scene. Finally, they are encouraged to always TELL a trusted adult. Safe Environment discussions will take place between October 14 – 31. Instructions for parents and print resources will be available under Resource Documents on FACTS SIS.
Our school will also join the hundreds of schools statewide in the Great California Shakeout on Thursday, October 17, at 10:17 AM. We have revised and reviewed our earthquake procedures with faculty and staff, and we will practice our drill with students under the guidance of our safety consultant. Students will practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold” and then “Evacuate” to the South Campus field. Staff have been assigned to designated teams, such as Communication, First Aid, Food and Water Distribution, Sweep, Sanitation, Student Support, and Homeroom teams. We have a supply of food and water and are prepared to remain on campus for up to three days, if necessary. Should we experience an actual earthquake, and no structures are stable, parents are asked to come to the south gate of the South Campus field for re-unification.
In November, we will conduct an Armed Intruder drill on both campuses. We will be sending out a survey later this month to glean parent input on the level of training to implement.
Thank you to the parents who attended our informational safety meeting in September. There were many great questions asked, and we will take into consideration the concerns addressed. We will provide notes from that meeting shortly.
While it is important to plan and prepare for emergencies, it is also important that we do not live our lives in fear of a potential threat. Remember that God wishes nothing but the best for us, and He will give us the strength and grace to endure anything that befalls us.
Finally, we pray for everyone who was so severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. Tomorrow, we ask you to make a monetary donation which we will forward to the agencies that are providing much needed supplies, as so many people lost everything. Students who bring in a donation will be permitted to wear non-uniform dress. We also pray for everyone in Florida now bracing for another catastrophic storm due to hit mid-week. May God watch over them and protect them.
In Mission, Kathy