TeSA Weekly Newsletter

9-20-2024

School Safety

TeSA Families,

We prioritize safety at TeSA! The new information in this newsletter is focused on our TeSA safety and security policies and procedures. Over the past few years, we've undertaken major safety upgrades, such as adding fencing, installing shatterproof film on our windows, working with the city to create a school zone, and hiring a full time security officer.

This year, we will be updating the interior door locking systems on several doors, upgrading our cybersecurity systems, and taking on a few other small projects inside and outside of the building. If you see something that seems unsafe, please email betsy.compton@mytesa.org so it can be addressed.

Artistically & Academically Yours,

Betsy Compton, M.A., M.A.T., M.Ed.

Principal

Texas School of the Arts

City of Edgecliff Village

TeSA is located in the city of Edgecliff Village. Although surrounded by Fort Worth on all sides, Edgecliff Village is it's own municipality. TeSA partners with the Edgecliff Village Volunteer Fire Department for all building inspections, fire drills, and emergency response. Fire Chief Ballew is a former TeSA parent and does a great job taking care of us. He even uses TeSA as a training ground for the department.

Edgecliff Village does not have it's own police force, so TeSA partners with the Tarrant County Sherriff's Department for all law enforcement needs. The Sherriff and Deputies who are most frequently at TeSA have copies of our emergency procedures and come to walk the building at least once per school year. They frequently park in our parking lot or on Village Parkway for additional visibility and support.

Safety Drills

By state law, all schools must hold practice drills multiple times per year. Our first Fire Drill at TeSA was held a few weeks ago, with no alarms going off. The students were given directions over our speaker system so they could learn all of the procedures in a low pressure situation. They've also already reviewed the lockdown and shelter drill procedures with their homeroom teachers. We will practice those drills campus-wide in the next few weeks.

As an elementary, we are careful to practice the drills in a way that is socially and emotionally safe for young children. We do not use the words "gun" or "intruder." Our vagueness may mean that you have questions at home. Thank you for having these conversations with your child in the way you feel is best for your family and reach out to our Counselor, Amy May, at amy.may@mytesa.org if you need additional resources.

The Texas School Safety Center has also developed A Parent’s Guide to School Safety Toolkit and Cyber Safety and Digital Responsibility: A Parent's Guide for you to learn more.

Standard Response Protocol

TeSA uses Standard Response Protocol, which is the most common emergency response procedures in Texas schools. Below are the parent handouts provided to explain the purpose of each response. The following are examples we have used during drills with the students that you are welcome to review at home:

Hold = Someone threw up in the hall, and we need to stay in our classrooms until it's cleaned.
Secure = There is a skunk outside, so we do not want to risk opening the doors to the school.
Lockdown = There is a stray dog loose in the building, and we need to stay quiet in our classrooms so the police can hear his barks and catch him.
Evacuate = Popcorn burned in the microwave, so we need to go outside until the smoke clears.
Shelter = The storm might produce hail, so we are staying inside and moving away from our windows.

Firearm Storage

Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. The attached information will help you learn about options for, as well as how to talk to your child and others about, the safe storage of firearms.

In 2021, 4,613 Texans experienced gun-related deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services (SHS) reports that 55% of Texas firearms deaths in 2020 were suicides and that 59% of all suicides in Texas were by firearms. Suicide attempts involving firearms have a 90% fatality rate. Restricting access to guns is critical in reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal violence often end in suicide.

It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm in a place where children are likely to be and can obtain access to the firearm. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13, a person commits the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with criminal negligence:

Failed to secure the firearm; or
Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access

The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500 fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $4000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two).

Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax.

Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com.

Safe gun storage is critical to preventing suicide, unintentional shootings, and other tragedies.

REPEATED INFORMATION

Dress Code

Our TeSA uniform is mix and match, giving families a lot of daily options. As you plan your child's outfits, please note the following:

Polos should ONLY be red and blue. (NO white)
Polos must have the TeSA logo.
The light blue button-up shirt can be purchased from any location, but must match the Flynn O'Hara color.
Jumpers must be plaid #36. (NO khaki)
ONLY TeSA jackets and sweaters are allowed in the building. When the weather turns cold, students may bring thicker jackets to wear during recess. For now, leave other hoodies and jackets at home.
No hats are allowed unless it is a dress up day.

Personally Owned Devices

Our official policy, as published in the Student Handbook, is included on the TeSA Resources tab of the website and copied below. If your child needs to have a personal device at school to communicate with you after dismissal, it should be kept in their backpack until the end of the school day. If students need to communicate with their families during the school day, they should come to the front office to use the TeSA phone. Thank you for reviewing this rule with your child to help us maintain the safety and privacy of all students.

Handbook Excerpt:

"Personally owned laptops, tablets, cell phones, and smartwatches may be used only with permission of the classroom teacher as part of the student’s assignment or class project when the student is working in the classroom of the teacher who has granted such permission. Such permission does not extend beyond the teacher’s classroom or to other times of the day, e.g., lunch, etc. Use of personal devices must adhere to the Technology and Internet Use Policy. The school will not be liable for personally owned devices brought on campus."

NEW Health Policies

Due to updated CDC guidelines, our TCA+A COVID Health Policy has changed. Although we are still required to report all positive cases, we will no longer have a 5-day waiting period to return. Instead, students may return when they are fever-free and have a reduction of symptoms. Masks are not mandatory, but are highly encouraged if your child is recovering from COVID or any other contagious disease. If your child tests positive for COVID, send an email to cynthia.rey@mytesa.org with the date of the onset of symptoms and the date tested.