From the Middle EMS and ELA
News from the Principal, 5/13/19
Hello Parents and Families,
This last week was definitely tough for everyone. I'm sure many of you were deeply impacted by the shooting at STEM, whether you know someone who attends STEM or out of concern for safety of our students. Another shooting this close to home is definitely a struggle for us all. My deepest condolences go out for all those impacted. Also, as a parent, I would be lying if I said I am not frightened by the continued school violence across our nation and state. However, I also want you to know that we continue to talk and take action on how we can prevent such terrible tragedies. We continue to develop new ways to support students as individuals so that they feel welcomed, accepted, and loved every day. For safety measures, we always ask that our students and staff take the drills seriously, and we make sure we learn from each drill to ensure that we are the most prepared we can be for tragedies such as these.
A few measures that I'd like to point out to you:
- Our new security kiosk provides a safe entrance to our school. Visitors to our building are required to wait in the vestibule until their ID is scanned and they have a known purpose to be in our building. This includes parents--we thank you for your cooperation with these processes.
- After students arrive for the day, the doors around the building are locked and we do not allow entrance to our building except through the main door.
- We share 4 security staff with Englewood High School. All of these staff are well-trained and focus on being visible and proactive all throughout the day. They perform locked door checks throughout the day, remain present in the halls, monitor outdoor lunch time, and support students and staff in many other ways.
- Administration and staff monitor hallways during passing period as well as during class time. Students are required to use hall passes if they leave class for any reason.
- Student IDs are to be worn at all times while in the building. This is true for all students who attend school at TEC.
- In the event of a lockdown, we tell students to "hide or run." Students know their goal is to get behind a locked door as quickly as possible. Likely this is a classroom--even if it is not their classroom. If they cannot get behind a locked door immediately, and if a building exit is nearby, we tell students they should leave and run to a nearby location--a home, a business, or the church east of the school.
- While in a lockdown, we want students and staff to be silent--this includes keeping cell phones away and silent.
- We have amazing mental health supports in our building. Ms. Tama Wood, Ms. Lori Lauer, and Ms. Mandy Miller all work every day to support our students. We also collaborate with All Health Network to maintain a therapist in the building to meet with students and families. If you or your student is in need of more support, please reach out to our counseling department at 303-806-2291.
Thank you for your support, as always. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Have a great week!
~Annessa Hart, Principal
EMS CONTINUATION--TUESDAY, MAY 21, 6 PM IN EHS FIELD HOUSE
ELA CONTINUATION--TUESDAY, MAY 21, 4:30 PM IN FISHER AUDITORIUM
Permission Slip for Science
As a part of the Colorado Science State Standards, students in grade 7 and grade 8 participate in a reproduction education unit. Attached here is the "OPT OUT" slip for your student's participation in the unit of study. If you do not want your student to participate in the reproduction unit of study, please print out the slip and return to your student's science teacher.
SIXTH GRADE MOVE UP DAY--WHAT A SUCCESS!
Counseling Corner--Englewood Schools Summer Programming
Supporting our Families--School to Home Connections
Striving for Excellence
Semester One-- 90-Day Plan for Improvement (linked here).
Semester Two--2nd 90-Day Plan for Improvement (linked here).