Bridport Family Newsletter 8/23/22
Update from Principal Matthew Brankman
September 22, 2023
Dear Bridport Community,
Earlier this year, our district shared an overview of our ACSD safety practices and our efforts to keep our community safe.You can find that information here. At [school] we practice safety drills designed to ensure that our students and staff are familiar with how to be safe in an emergency. Some months, we practice what to do if we need to evacuate the building. Other months we practice what to do when unsafe people or hazards enter our school.
We are required to practice two options-based drills - one in September and one in January. Options-based drills introduce students to various strategies in response to a threat, such as when to evacuate from the school or barricade in a classroom. Please know that all options based drills are trauma informed and age appropriate. This means the drills are performed in a way that is sensitive to the emotional well-being of our students.
We will be holding our first options-based drill next week.
We use the A.L.I.C.E protocol for a response to an active threat. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff, and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a “lockdown drill” all of the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed.
We know that this is an emotional topic for parents and caregivers and want to assure you of a few things:
The adults in our building work together to plan and ensure students feel safe and we remind them that the drill is practice.
We talk with students in a developmentally appropriate way before and after each drill and our practice is developmentally aligned.
We are available to support families. We will share resources below to help you talk with your child about these experiences and invite you to reach out at any time.
Next week, classes will practice quickly relocating from their classroom to another space in the building. As a faculty, we spoke about this drill as a way to help students move from an unsafe or unhealthy space to another. Teachers felt confident in their ability to articulate the drill to their students, they identified a space they will move to in an emergency, and have thought about scenarios that may lead them to move from one space in the building to another.
I want you to know about it in advance and be able to talk with your children about it when they come home. Here are a few resources to support those conversations:
Talking with Your Children about Safety Drills (Johns Hopkins)
Talking with Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators (NASP)
If you have questions or would like to connect please reach out to me directly.
Respectfully,
Matthew Brankman
PrincipalPTO Information!
Panorama- Social Emotional Learning Screener
As parents, teachers, and caregivers, we know that social emotional learning (SEL) is crucial for our students’ success in school and in life. To support this learning, we first need to understand how students are doing. Last year, a group of teachers and administrators identified research-backed SEL measurement tools and selected the Panorama surveys. This year, we will again be using Panorama as a tool. The survey will be given a total of three times (fall, winter, spring), and it takes students about 10-15 minutes to complete. We will use the data we collect to reflect on student learning and strengthen our programs and instruction to help all students succeed.
In the next month, we will provide a survey to our K-12 students. Students in 3rd-12th grades will self-reflect on skills related to self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. For grades K-2, teachers will complete a much shorter survey on the same topics about each student in their class. We ask that all students participate, because their feedback will provide valuable insights to help us improve and adapt our district to support all students.
Please notify us if you wish to opt your child out of taking the survey by emailing mcurran@acsdvt.org with your child’s name, grade, and class by September 15, 2023.
Thank you in advance for supporting this important work. If you have any questions please contact your school principal or Courtney Krahn, Director of Teaching and Learning (ckrahn@acsdvt.org; 820-382-1276).
Resources
Help our schools with one simple form!
All school meals will be free again for ALL students.
But, it's still VERY IMPORTANT to complete the free and reduced meal application form. Our district gets $475,000+ each year based on the % of students who qualify for free/reduced meals. So, if you fill out the form, you help us qualify!
A paper application will come home with your child, or apply now online.
5th Grade Basketball!
Grade 5 boys and girls interested in working on their basketball skills and playing more games, we have a great opportunity for you. Mini-metro basketball has been around for more than 30 years. Come join the grade 5/6 team from Middlebury! We have both a boys team and a girls team. Games are every Sunday starting on Nov. 5th. We will have one or two practices a week throughout October in Middlebury. We work on fostering a positive environment and focus on skill and team development.
Tryouts will be on Sept. 9th for the grade 5/6 boys at the Town Rec. gym from 4:30 to 5:45pm. The grade 5/6 girls tryouts/first practice will be on Sept. 10th from 5:45 to 7:00pm at the same gym. In both cases please arrive up to a half hour early to get fitted for uniforms. The Middlebury Basketball Association will be covering all fees and expenses. Players will need to travel for some games, we will also host games in Midddlebury at the Town Rec. gym.
For more information please email info@middhoops.com
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3442 VT ROUTE 22A
BRIDPORT, VT 05734
TELEPHONE: 802-758-2331
FAX: 802-758-2866