Happy October!
Hello Heath Brook families,
Cool and crisp days can lead to warm afternoons. Our New England weather is indeed changeable. We want children to play outside as much as possible so please send them with appropriate outerwear. Labeling wouldn't hurt, as sometimes items get left behind. We will store any items found in the corner of the cafeteria by the door.
School Safety. A new year brings new opportunities to teach routines designed to keep all our students and staff safe in case of an emergency. We use drills to practice skill development so that, in the case of an actual emergency, we will know better what to do.
During the first week of school, we always practice a fire drill or evacuation drill with the Tewksbury Fire Department. As the year proceeds, our students and staff will practice other kinds of drills, usually once a month. These drills will include:
FIRE/EVACUATION - During a fire evacuation, students and staff will exit the building by the closest door possible. This is usually a door in the classroom.
ALTERNATE EVACUATION - Evacuation of building for reason other than fire. Instructions will be given regarding entrances/exits to be used or avoided.
LOCKDOWN - Employed when dealing with threat or potential threat to school building or occupants within the building.
LOCKOUT - Procedure used when dealing with threat or potential threat to the school from outside the building.
A.L.I.C.E. - ALICE is an acronym for a safety protocol adopted by the Tewksbury Public Schools in the event of an active shooter in the school.
Each of these drills is handled in a developmentally appropriate manner with our littlest ones. I will send a message to all families after a drill is completed so you will have information for any conversations at home.
Thank you. Your partner in safety,
Mrs. Gerrish
