Bobcat Bulletin
Sept. 29, 2021
Upcoming Dates
Oct. 8th: School Safety Drill with the TPPD
Oct. 11th: Columbus Day- No School
Oct. 21st: Board of Education Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 22nd: Monster Mash 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Oct. 25th-29th: Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 29th: Classroom Halloween Parties, Half-Day of School - Dismissal at 11:10 a.m., End of 1st Quarter
Look ahead to our "Bannes Spiritober"...
5th Grade Band
Kindergarten Alphabet Centers
D140 Safety Drills - 2021-22 School Year
Dear Bannes Parents and Guardians,
As required by the Illinois State Statute, our schools participate in fire, severe weather, bus evacuation, and emergency response drills during the school year. To ensure our students and staff understand what to do in the case of an emergency, we plan and practice several drills throughout the year. We wanted you to be aware of the various drills so you can be prepared to discuss them with your child if the topic arises at home.
Three (3) fire drills to address and prepare students and school personnel for fire incidents. One of these three drills requires the participation of the local fire department or district.
One (1) bus evacuation drill for all students.
One (1) severe weather and shelter-in-place drill to address and prepare students and school personnel for possible tornado incidents.
One (1) lockdown drill to address active threat incidents and to evaluate the preparedness of school personnel and students. There are no simulations with this drill. We present scenarios over the PA system for age and developmentally appropriate discussion.
On Friday, October 8th, our school will participate in a lockdown drill. Our experience in conducting drills has shown us that most students can participate with the understanding that it is just a drill. However, parents/guardians have the right to exempt their child from the drill. Should you feel this situation would be too traumatic for your child or should you want more information about the drills, please contact me at (708)532-6466. Under state law, schools must still provide alternative safety education related to an active threat to students who do not participate in the lockdown drill.
Each year, the entire District 140 staff is trained on our crisis prevention and response plan, which was developed in coordination with our local police and fire departments. We review these plans annually with all of the fire and police departments that serve our schools because we work cooperatively to keep students safe. After each drill, we reflect as a staff and with local emergency responders to determine if there are any procedures we might need to review with the staff and students.
We also focus on prevention by forming relationships with our students to provide support when they need it, and so that they feel comfortable reporting to us when they hear or see concerning behaviors. Please reinforce this with your children at home. Let them know that they can also come to you when they feel unsafe and remind them that they should report any suspicions and concerns about school safety.
In the event of a real emergency, not a drill, every phone number associated with your child’s Infinite Campus record will be called using our notification system. We will also email parents/guardians and provide information on our website. We appreciate your cooperation and promise to communicate with you as soon as possible. Please be patient as our first priority will be the safety of our students and staff.
Safe classrooms and work environments depend on our commitment to make emergency preparedness a top priority. We encourage you to engage in discussions with your child about school and community safety in an effort to be prepared to act in the event of an emergency. Should you have any questions about any of our safety drills, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Karyn Bissell
Principal
Social Emotional Wellness
Times may be uncertain, but rest assured, we are here for you and your family. As we forge ahead together, please know we have resources to help. Do not hesitate to reach out to your Social/Emotional leaders at Bannes:
School Counselor
Rachel Jesiolowski
School Social Worker
Jacqueline Carruth
Crisis & Support Hotlines:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
24/7 free & confidential support & crisis resources
Crisis Textline: text HOME to 741741
24/7 text message support for those in crisis.
Between Friends: 1-800-603-HELP (1-800-603-4357)
24/7 domestic violence crisis line
Call 4 Calm: Text “TALK” or “HABLAR” to 552-020
Free Emotional Support Text Line
Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline: 1-888-293-2080
24/7 Chicago rape hotline for survivors of sexual violence & their significant others
Illinois Warm Line: 1-866-359-7953
Peer & Family mental health support by phone, weekdays M-F 9 AM-5 PM
NAMI Chicago local resources & referral helpline: 312-563-0445
Compassionate support & personalized referrals M-F 9 AM-5 PM, Sat 9-1
If you or someone you love is experiencing an immediate, life-threatening mental health crisis, call 911, clearly state that the individual is experiencing a mental health emergency, and ask that a Critical Incident Team officer responds to the situation. A Critical Incident Team officer is trained in handling psychiatric emergencies.