SPSD Family Update

SPSD Families:

Each fall, I focus one of my Family Updates on school safety. We all need to know the safety terms and procedures utilized by our district.

I am sure the safety of your children is always on your mind. It is something I think about all hours of the day, too. We work closely with our local police department and the Wisconsin Office of School Safety to make sure we have the most up-to-date safety protocols in place in our schools.

We all play a role in keeping Sauk Prairie safe.

• Talk with your kids.
• Monitor what they are doing online -- no matter how old they are.
• If you have guns in your home, keep them safely locked up.
• Reach out when your kids need help -- we have a strong team ready to support them.

We are in this together.

Call if you have any questions. My office line is 643-5980.

Jeff

The new inductees are:

Caden Argall, Bryce Ballweg, Brooke Braund, Drake Brensike, Addison Brings, Alexis Cleveland, Alyssa Dahlby, Isabelle Diehl, Addie Drescher, Neelah Ganshert, Kjersten Hagen, Phoebe Hager, Claire Handschke, Maggie Hanna, Alyssa Himebauch, Dreya Hyzer, Michael Jolicoeur, Ella Katers, Alexander Kirk, Adrian Klecker, Hayden Kruchten, Gavrielle Lassanske, Leon Lavigne, Jameson Lewellin, JoElla Martin, Sierra Martin, Ava Meise, Haydee Meyer, Vanessa Molden, Gretchen Oberloh, Emellia Osgood, Vanessa Palmer, Samuel Patterson, Elio Piccinelli, Haley Royster, Seneca Ruyle, Sofia Saavedra Hernandez, Molly Schneller, Victoria Seebecker, Lila Shadewald, Penelope Steiner, Gianna Sylvester, Brooklyn Trachsler, Susanna Van Hallgren

Additionally, our chapter just found out that it earned the NHS Chapter of Distinction recognition from the National Principals Association.

Below you will find the following safety information:

• Safety Terms and Procedures
• Access to free Project ChildSafe gun locks
• How to report safety threats to a 24-hour tipline
• How to refer a student for mental health support
• New E3 system for staff / police communication

Our District website has information about school safety protocols, safety drills, submitting safety tips, and more. Check it out to learn about the Standard Response Protocol and our practices.

Here is a brief review of the terminology:

• Secure: "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors." May be used for law enforcement activity such as serving warrants in a nearby location or the report of dangerous wildlife in the area.
• Lockdown: "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight" Used when there are threats inside the school or there is an emergency or dangerous situation very near the building.
• Evacuate: "To a Location" Students and staff are moved to a new or safe location due to a situation in or near the school building. Examples: Gas leak in the school; unsafe situation near school affecting release times.
• Shelter: "State Hazard and Safety Strategy" Students and staff are instructed to take safe shelter due to a situation in or near the school. Examples: Tornado or other natural events.
• Hold: "In Your Classroom or Area" May be used for medical emergency or event in the hallway or a law enforcement request for locker searches.

"Keeping guns out of the wrong hands is a firearm owner's most important priority, and securing a firearm is one of the most important steps parents can take to protect at-risk teens and others in the home." - Joe Bartozzi, President and CEO, National Shooting Sports Foundation

Gun Safety Locks Available at the District Office and SPPD

In partnership with the Sauk Prairie Police Department and Sauk County Public Health, SPSD is making "Project ChildSafe Locks" available to district families.

Project ChildSafe is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearms safety and education. It is committed to promoting genuine firearms safety through the distribution of safety education messages and free firearm safety kits to communities across the U.S.

Where can you pick up a free Project ChildSafe cable lock?

• Sauk Prairie Police Department main lobby: 640 13th Street (just north of Bridges Elementary)
• SPSD District Office: 440 13th Street

The video below was created by Project ChildSafe and addresses issues of youth mental health and gun safety.

We all play a role in keeping each other safe. One way we do this is reporting safety concerns and teaching students how to report when they are worried about their safety or the safety of others.

How do I do this?

• Call 9-1-1
• Share a safety tip through the Speak Up Speak Out system. This system is monitored by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety 24 hours per day. The Speak Up, Speak Out reporting tool can be used for threats to safety and concerns about bullying or harassment.
• Share a concern with a trusted adult (school staff, parent, etc.)

Our Student Services team invites you to refer a student in need of support. This could be your own child, a friend, or another student you are worried about. The referral may result in a connection to one of our social workers, school counselors, a mentor, or a mental health therapist.

One safety improvement we made during the past few months is adding the E3 safety communication system for our staff. E3 is an emergency response and safety communication platform designed for drills and for times when a school enters a secure, lockdown, evacuate, shelter, or hold.

How does E3 help us?

• One-Tap Alerts: We can send rapid notifications to internal staff or first responders in under a second via mobile, desktop, or tablet.
• Smart Maps: Interactive indoor and outdoor maps built directly from actual school floor plans empower staff to show where students are and to take attendance.
• Cross-Device Chat: Allows for direct two-way messaging between school staff, administration, and first responders.

Our staff started training with E3 last spring.

Join us on Thursday evening to help review potential solutions to address facility needs at the Middle School and Grand Avenue. Everyone is welcome.

Thursday, October 15th from 7:00-8:30pm in the Middle School library

The presentation slides for the focus group are included below. I encourage you to look at slides 13 through 22. These slides explain solutions proposed by the architect to solve the problems identified by the facility study and prioritized by the community members who participated in earlier forums.

Tower Rock 4th Graders and School Board members brought the

BECI 765kV Transmission Line Team to their Outdoor Learning Environment

to ask some tough questions about the proposed line

Bridges Elementary students learning about fire safety

from the Prairie du Sac Fire Department

SPHS Marching Band performing live on WKOW's morning show

8th Graders working together on the Expeditions Unlimited high ropes course

Grand Avenue all-school photo after the Grand Avenue Gallup

Larson Holiday Farm donated six trees to help regrow Merrimac's "Pinetown"

on the playground after it was damaged in last April's storms

You pick the days you work. You select the schools and grade levels. You choose if you want to sub as a teacher, assistant, etc. Join our substitute team. Learn more via the red button below.

October 29-30 - No School

Website: www.saukprairieschools.org
Location: 440 13th Street, Prairie du Sac, WI, USA
Phone: 608-643-5990
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaukPrairieSchools