FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello families!
As principals, we wear many hats, none more important than student safety. This means making sure students feel emotionally, academically and physically safe. One safety aspect is preparing students for a variety of scenarios, including what to do in the event of a fire, if there is something unsafe outside the building or something dangerous happening in our school. Finally, if we needed to relocate our students and staff to a different building. We are in the midst of fall safety drills and want to ensure you are aware of some of our most common:
- Shelter in Place: All students are brought inside and take shelter in a designated location away from windows and exterior walls. This may be weather-related and/or something else outside the building (fire nearby?).
- Hold in Place: We use this when we need hallways kept clear. Scenario: An injury in the hallway. During a Hold in Place, the announcement is made, teachers pull in students from the hallway and business continues as usual within classrooms until the announcement is made to end the Hold in Place.
- Evacuation drills (AKA Fire Drill): We would use evacuation in the event of a non-human danger within the school building. For example, a fire or gas leak. During these drills and events, students follow their classroom teacher to a designated location, in which attendance is taken and students are accounted for. All halls, classrooms, restrooms and offices are swept by building leaders to verify a safe evacuation.
- Lockout: This is not to be confused with a Lockdown. During a Lockout, the danger is outside of the building. Building doors are locked, and no one is allowed in or out. For example: Stranger danger outside of the building.
- Lockdown drills: A Lockdown is used in the event of imminent danger within the building (example: an intruder). During these drills, classrooms turn off all lights, cover windows, lock classroom doors and move to a designated meeting place within the classroom out of sight. The Lockdown is lifted by a building Principal, WICSD Security or Local PD only after an “all clear” is given.
In addition to the above drills, we are also in the midst of our annual visits from the St. Paul Fire Department to review fire safety in school and at home. Some K-3 students may have already participated and come home excited to share!
Students do not learn when they do not feel safe, so these exercises are critical. Conducting thorough drills with fidelity is one of the ways we ensure that all students are safe and prepared. Thank you for trusting us and continuing to partner with us in your children’s education.
Sincerely,
Jennifer DeWitz
CONTACT INFORMATION
Principal: Jennifer DeWitz | Jennifer_DeWitz@westiron.monroe.edu
Secretary: Amber Kash | Amber_Kash@westiron.monroe.edu
Main office: 585-336-1610
Fax: 585-336-1611
Website: westirondequoit.org/briarwood_school
Health Office: 585-336-1618
· Nurse: Lisa Marrapese
Transportation: 585-336-2992
District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org
Report cards for 1st through 3rd grades will be available on the Parent Portal on Friday, Nov. 15. Click here to go the portal. The first report card for our kindergarten students will be in January 2025.
With colder weather approaching, please note that all students will go outside for recess as long as the temperature and wind-chill factors are greater than or equal to 20 degrees F. There is no option for a student to remain indoors if their class is outside. Please be sure to send your student each day with appropriate clothing to keep them warm while they are outside.
Parents/Guardians
Do you:
· Have a new cell phone number or email address?
· Have a new work phone number?
· Need to update your emergency contacts?
Be sure to keep your child's school informed of any changes to your phone numbers or emergency contact information. Update info directly on the Parent Portal, or send in a note with your child.
Thank you!
