Dear SJHS Families,
This week, I want to highlight some other areas of strength from our Title I Parent Survey—areas that speak directly to the heart of our work at SJHS: student safety and attendance.
Two highly‑rated areas on this year’s survey were:
These results matter. They reflect the daily work of our teachers, support staff, and families who partner with us to keep students safe, present, and engaged. Thank you for the trust you place in us.
Strengthening Safety and Attendance
As part of our ongoing efforts to support safety and attendance, we recently added a new digital tool called Securly Pass, an extension of the Flex system we began using for Friday School scheduling. Pass allows us to:
Time‑stamp student check‑ins when they arrive late to school or class
Track hall passes so we know when students leave class and how long they are out
Monitor patterns that help us support attendance, reduce lost instructional time, and keep students safe
This system directly impacts (and improves) the two areas families identified as schoolwide strengths—safety and attendance—by giving us clearer, real‑time information.
Why This Matters Right Now
Our attendance secretary, Bianca Diaz, has spent much of the year reminding students (and families) that being on time matters (see her weekly newsletter messages in the Attendance Check-in section, as well as her monthly Attendance Newsletter). Every minute in class counts. And staying in class—unless absolutely necessary—helps students keep up with learning and reduces disruptions.
Unfortunately, in an attempt to avoid being marked tardy to class, we have found students climbing school security fences and propping open exterior doors to bypass going through the main office vestibule. These are serious safety concerns. We want our students to be safe and for our parents to trust that their students are safe--not just because we live in a small, rural town, but because our campus is secure and students are making safe choices.
Additionally, we have experienced a significant increase in vandalism in our boys’ bathrooms and locker rooms this semester. Damage has included:
Sinks pulled off walls
Toilets intentionally plugged
Hardware removed from partitions
Stall doors kicked in and locks broken
Lightbulbs removed
Faucets unscrewed and left running
Graffiti—even in newly renovated restrooms
This is not only costly—it is unsafe. We have increased administration and school safety officer supervision, limited student access to certain restrooms at various times, and offered a monetary reward for information that helps us put a stop to this behavior. Students have been clearly informed that vandalism may result in police involvement and expulsion from school.
The Pass system helps us better understand who is out of class, when, where, and for how long, which supports both safety and attendance. However, within the first two days of implementation, we discovered some students attempting to use other students’ school ID numbers to avoid being logged in the system. This is a serious violation of school policy and is considered identity misuse. Students who engage in this behavior will face school consequences, including suspension, and may lose the privilege of using hall passes during class time.
How Families Can Help
We have just two weeks left in the school year. This is the time when students (and teachers) are tired, routines feel frustrating, and choices matter more than ever. We are asking families to partner with us by having a conversation at home about:
Our goal is simple: a safe, positive, and productive end to the school year for every student.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can ensure that SJHS remains a place where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
With gratitude,
Mrs. Mo
