April 3, 2023
Dear Montgomery Families,
It’s so wonderful to be back from Spring Break and see the smiling faces of our students. The period from now through the end of the year is full of milestones and special moments, and it feels like time moves so quickly in the final months of the school year for all of us!
Perhaps you–like me–found yourself with one eye on the news over this past week while you enjoyed adventures or special time with your Montgomery student. The events at Covenant Christian School in Nashville were another devastating loss, and it’s important to honor feelings and keep our focus on the safety of our own community.
As we return from break, teachers won’t be bringing up the events in Nashville with students but some students may be aware of the news. We’ll be ready with quiet support and resources should any student share or show signs of concern. As parents, we may also need home resources when the incomprehensible happens. Our school counselor Dr. Conroy recommends the following resources for educators and parents alike:
Talking to children about violence
(National Association of School Psychologists)
How to talk to children about difficult news
(American Psychological Association)
How to talk to kids about school shootings
(Common Sense Media)
Helping young children with tragic events in the news
(PBS Kids for Parents)
Also, as I’ve shared in the past, we have security and safety measures in place to ensure we are doing all we can to protect our own community.
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Emergency Training: Our staff regularly engages in assessment, planning, protocol development, training, and evaluation for emergency situations. On a recent professional day, we did explicit training related to physical threats to our campus. Students are introduced to these procedures and practice in an developmentally appropriate manner.
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Controlled Access: All buildings and classrooms are locked during school hours and can only be accessed with electronic swipe cards.
- Visitor Policy and Registry: All visitors must check in at the Farmhouse building. We enforce this policy by ensuring that each visitor on campus is registered and has a visitor badge.
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24 hours Surveillance System: Digital cameras are installed throughout campus to monitor activities at all times.
- Health & Safety Committee: School Administrators evaluate the school’s safety and emergency procedures throughout the year and implement changes as needed.
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Safe2Say Something: This youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” before it is too late. This program allows students and adults to submit anonymous tips about concerns they have that someone they know might be at risk of hurting themselves or others.
There are so many great experiences ahead for our children and our community. Those experiences are only possible because of the ways we care for and support one another every day. I’m proud of our community and that Montgomery focuses on the things that matter most.
See you on campus soon!
Warmly,
Tom McManus
Head of School