News You Can Use November 2007
Posted by lsnl in : November 2007 Edition, News You Can Use , trackbackSafety and Security The school currently maintains a Crisis Plan designed to be a guideline for handling a variety of crises. It is updated annually. On a daily basis, the school has two security guards patrolling the campus. In addition, there are at least six housekeeping and maintenance staff members working in the buildings and three to four groundskeeping staff. All of these employees help monitor the campus. They are in radio communication with each other, as well as with the front desks in each of the school buildings. Video surveillance cameras are also in place around the campus. We have also improved our fire safety infrastructure. Inside the school buildings, all of the fire alarm systems have been upgraded over the last few years and much of the school has been retrofitted with sprinklers. The Upper School science labs have been upgraded with modern safety equipment. The school holds monthly evacuation (fire) drills, one of which is observed by the Philadelphia Fire Department. We continue to look at best practices in the industry, and this year we are making three major changes to our plans and practices: Access to Buildings Parent Communications Lockdown Drills While we have improved security on campus and will continue to be vigilant about safety, we will preserve the welcoming and inclusive environment that has long defined the Penn Charter community. We, of course, will continue to monitor these issues and make appropriate changes as necessitated by the complex world in which we live. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have questions about security on campus. Hal Davidow Drive Slowly School Closure Information Enrichment
Penn Charter continues to improve our operating plans and facilities to ensure your child’s safety. Our current practices attempt to balance an open learning environment with a plan for anticipating and handling a crisis. Over the summer, we made several major changes in facilities, improving our communication capacity and providing a more secure environment within our buildings.
During school hours, we are asking that all parents and visitors enter the school buildings through the main entrances. We are also asking that parents sign in and out at that building’s reception area. It is important for us to make contact with anyone entering the building and to know who is in the building in the event of an emergency. Signing in will not be necessary before school starts, after school or during special events. During the school day, school personnel will lock many of the external doors that are not main entrances.
The school has contracted with a company to provide phone and e-mail notifications in the event of an emergency. The details of this service will be announced in November.
In conjunction with the local fire department, we are planning two lockdown drills. This drill will be the opposite of a fire drill. Everyone is kept in the building and accounted for during a lockdown drill. In order to have an effective lockdown, the school has made several physical improvements on the campus. In the Lower School, we held a lockdown drill last year. It was described to the students as an “inside drill.” As a result of that exercise, we identified two issues that were addressed over the summer.
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We would like to remind parents to drive slowly, very slowly, through all school parking lots. We are working with student drivers to teach them how to avoid accidents with students and adults walking in school parking lots, and we would ask that parents be careful as well.
Announcements of storm-related closing will be made on the school website. Check www.penncharter.com for the most up-to-date information on school closing. On the radio, Penn Charter closings are indicated only by the listing of number 122 on KYW 1060 AM. It is Penn Charter’s policy that once opened, the school will remain open for the entire academic day. School personnel will supervise all children until appropriate transportation home is arranged, either by Penn Charter bus, public school bus, or private car. If snow is falling and school is in session, students should not call home to request that parents pick them up from school. However, if parents feel it is necessary to pick up their children because of weather conditions, they may do so. Students will be dismissed only if there has been direct contact with a parent or guardian.
Fourth and fifth graders will begin enrichment at 3:00 pm and end at 4:00 pm. Enrichment teachers will walk them to the lobby of the Lower School where they will sign out and can be picked up in the front circle.
Playground
The LS playground is available to families prior to the start of the After-School Program. Students are permitted to play on the kindergarten playground provided that their parents are with them outside on the playground to supervise. These students must leave the playground when the students from the After-School Program arrive.
Keys to Communication in Lower School
As you know, communication is key to any relationship between teachers and parents. The following guidelines are intended to support a professional and respectful community. If you have a question about a classroom issue or a specific incident involving a teacher, it is important that you contact the teacher first. It is best to make an appointment with the teacher so he or she can give you undivided attention. Stopping teachers in the hall either at the beginning or the end of the day makes it difficult for teachers to give you their full attention as they are attending to the students. If you have educational issues relating to the larger instructional program in Lower School, please address these questions to the director of the Lower School. Dr. Ahmed-Lee can provide you with more specific information as to the continuity of program, curriculum focus, and future goals of the school.
Communication with Teachers
Penn Charter offers many ways to communicate with your child’s teacher. We ask that you choose the one that best suits your purpose.
Send a Note With Your Child
We highly recommend that, if you need to contact your child’s teacher right away, you do so by sending a note with your child. This is the quickest possible method and ensures that the teacher will get the note that morning.
Phone the Lower School Office
If you need to report an absence or change in dismissal, we ask that you phone the Lower School office. Phone calls must be received by 12 noon if at all possible in order to honor changes in dismissal.
E-Mail
Each Lower School teacher has an e-mail address. Teachers will check their e-mail by 5 pm, or at the end of their school day. Once teachers have read e-mail, they will respond within 48 hours. Therefore, we ask that urgent messages not be sent through e-mail.