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2/23/18
Dear Seahawk Families:
The past several days have been intense as the conversations
and actions around school violence have taken place. I appreciate all the
correspondence from parents with varying points of view on walkouts and
questions about security. I have been
responding to and meeting with students who have reached out to me and met with
our students in Leadership class to dialogue about student protest. I have
honestly not been able to respond to each email individually this week and I
apologize for that. I hope that this message will address several common themes
that I am being asked about.
Security Resources
South Lakes, as with other FCPS schools, continually assesses
our safety protocols to ensure we are doing all we can to ensure the safety and
security of staff and students each and every day. We conduct fire drills, tornado drills and
lockdown drills. This website provides general information about security
protocols to include what the different levels (lockdown, secure the building,
shelter in place, and stay put/stay tuned) of emergency response mean https://www.fcps.edu/resources/safety-and-transportation/emergency-planning-and-crisis-response
.
The administrative team regularly participates in updated
emergency response training done by the FCPS Security Office staff. Our most
recent training, conducted last year, included table- top exercises where we
are presented with different scenarios, and our team must quickly process the security
and safety issues presented ensuring that our procedures and responses are
appropriate. Each year we update and
review the schools crisis plan which is submitted and approved by the county.
South Lakes has a pro-active, experienced, law-enforcement
professional, School Resource Officer (SRO), Dave Bonner, who is stationed at
our site. We are allocated four security staff members, and I fund additional
security staff to cover the 373,000 square feet and over 35 acres of
our campus. We are fortunate to have
Hughes Middle School next door, and their SRO and Officer Bonner regularly
communicate with one another and consistently collaborate to share information
and ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff at both schools. Ms.
Trout, principal at Terraset and Ms. Monticchio, principal at Hughes, and I
support each other when situations arise that the other needs to know about or
that we may need additional support with.
Our school was fortunate to be able to install interior and
exterior video surveillance a few years ago. Our new addition is equipped with
this feature and we are in the process of upgrading some of the older
equipment. South Lakes recently upgraded
the check-in system in the main office allowing us to better verify and track
visitors.
Walkouts
I have received a variety of feedback from parents about
students participating in the walkout on Wednesday. Some are appreciative that
students are able to express their views while others want staff to keep
students in class. Here is what FCPS has
provided regarding this topic for both students and staff:
Student Participation in Political Activities
- FCPS respects the rights of our students to engage in peaceful protest and express their opinions through speech and other ways as long as it is done respectfully, does not interfere with the rights of others, and does not disrupt learning in the school.
- We respect students’ rights to participate in walkouts especially during non-instructional time such as lunch, in hallways, during activities, etc., as long as they meet their educational and administrative obligations. They may wear t-shirts and other insignia advertising related messages as long as those clothes are not obscene, vulgar, or otherwise in violation of the SR&R.
- Students are allowed to leave classrooms and their buildings, although they are encouraged to remain on school property for safety reasons.
- Students participating in marches or walkouts are expected to participate in class and to respond to administrative questions and directives in the same way as all other students.
- Per SR&R, “An unexcused absence from school or from class is one for which the student does not have a legitimate reason in the opinion of the principal. When a student is absent without prior communication between the parent and the school, school personnel will notify the parent and take appropriate action based on the individual circumstances.”
- If principals are approached about leafleting, rallies, speeches, flyers, use of tables for literature and discussion, etc., their approval or disapproval should be governed by the same rules that the school ordinarily applies to such activities. (See Regulation 1367 and SR&R)
- Harassment of participants should not be tolerated at any school.
- Our Student Rights and Responsibilities document states: “Students may exercise the right to freedom of expression through speech, assembly, petition, and other lawful means and have the right to advocate change of any law, policy, or regulation. The exercise of this of this right may not interfere with the rights of others…”
Staff Participation in Political Activities
- Teachers are directed to remain in class with students who do not participate in any walkout.
- Although these events are primarily student-sponsored, it is possible employees will participate. They may do so during non-work time.
- They should not distribute materials in the classroom unless the principal has approved distribution as part of a curricular or SR&R activity.
- FCPS employees are encouraged to exercise their constitutional rights to participate in political activity---e.g. campaigning, running for office, registering voters, displaying and distributing political materials---but should do so on their own time, or by taking leave.
- Instructional personnel may discuss political issues with students as part of the instructional program, following FCPS guidelines to insure balanced and critical review of issues.
- FCPS employees may not participate nor may FCPS facilities be used in political campaigns during school or work hours. During work hours, employees and those acting on behalf of FCPS should not wear campaign buttons, T shirts, hats or other items designed to influence the outcome of an election, nor should they display such items in their workplaces.
Our staff is expected to respect the right of students to participate in walkouts. At the same time it is important that students realize that our instructional environment is not to be impacted. This means that teachers are to continue with instruction. Teachers are to take attendance and mark students accordingly.
FCPS staff is not to oppose or endorse political activity during the school day- our presence is to provide supervision to ensure student safety. We are aware of other walkout dates that are currently planned for during the school day. The walkout on March 14th, being publicized on social media, is a Standards of Learning (SOL) Writing test date. I have to be upfront that this is very concerning for me as this exam is a requirement for graduation. If further direction is given from FCPS around activities on this date that will be communicated.
Daily Protocols
A few reminders about protocols we have in place that relate to student safety, security and wellness.
- All visitors must check-in at the main office
and get a pass on the relatively new visitor management system. Visitors should
have a picture ID with them.
- Students who forget something should ask their parent/guardian
to bring it to the main office. There is adequate visitor parking outside door
#1 now. Students should not be going
outside during the day unless authorized to do so. This includes going to their
cars during the school day.
- Students who are found returning to school
grounds after leaving without permission are subject to search and disciplinary
consequences.
- We do not allow outside deliveries of food. The
school cafeteria has a number of options ranging from hot lunches, pizza,
salads and deli sandwiches if students forget their lunch. Please consider
setting up a lunch account on MySchoolBucks with a few dollars for emergency
cases https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home
- Students who need to checkout should bring a
note to their subschool at the beginning of the day to get a pink checkout
pass. Students show this to their teacher to be dismissed from class so they
can leave if walking, driving, or to meet their parent to be picked up. Students should be picked up at door #1
unless it is at dismissal when the buses are lining up.
- Students staying after school for clubs, work
with teachers or activities need to be with an adult by 3:15p.m. FCPS late buses are available on Wednesdays
for those students who are here for authorized activities and get a pass for
the adult they stay with. Students who stay after other days of the week need
to have their own transportation or use the Fairfax Connector bus.
Communication
We recognize that this is a difficult time for many students
and parents; our staff is feeling it as well.
Please keep the lines of communication open if you have any
concerns. Your child’s administrator or
school counselor should be the first level of contact. The police emergency (911), non-emergency
number (703-691-2131) or FCPS School Security (571-423-2000) may be appropriate
for immediate safety or wellness situations. Additional county resources can be
found at:
https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/mental-health-resources-and-emergency-services-information
Students and parents are encouraged to be connected through
the various communication channels available:
On behalf of the staff at South Lakes, thank you for all the
support and feedback that has been provided over the past week. If there are
still specific questions I have not answered please feel free to email and I
will make every effort to get answers.
Please enjoy this weekend and take time to be with family. I
know I have hugged my child a little tighter in recent days.
Sincerely,
Kim Retzer
Proud Principal
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