Principal's Post -Teaching Students Safety Skills and Preparing for Our First Fire Evacuation Practice
Dear K-2 Families,
Teaching students safety skills and informing them of our school's Critical Incident Response plan has always been a priority in the Mount Horeb Area School District. This year, we will continue this important work with a trauma-sensitive approach and the consistency, language, and reassurance we have always provided students during safety lessons and drills. We acknowledge that these conversations may cause some students to experience various emotions, so we will have additional support ready to provide them with the care they may need.
Next week, K-2 students will participate in a lesson that reviews our Critical Incident Response plan. The goal is for students to understand the plan in place to keep everyone safe. Preparing our students for emergencies, inside and outside of school, is basic, lifelong, fundamental education.
Tomorrow morning we will also be conducting our first fire evacuation practice of the 2024/2025 school year as part of our District's Safety Plan. It is our intent to communicate with families prior to each safety drill during the school year.
In preparation for our first fire evacuation drill the following steps will be taken in advance of the actual practice:
School staff will notify students of the upcoming drill and ensure they know they are safe
A video model will be shown to students prior to the drill that will support their preparedness
I (Principal) will foreshadow the drill over our loudspeaker.
Additional staffing will be allocated to students/locations that are identified as needing more support.
After the evacuation practice concludes:
School staff will debrief with students in class huddles
Expected choices will be acknowledged for all students with red and gold tokens
I (Principal) will praise the work over the loudspeaker and assure students the drill is complete and they are safe.
Student safety and well-being are our top priorities. The fire evacuation practice tomorrow morning along with the idea of next week’s lesson is not to create fear or concern for students but to discuss the options we have in an emergency. We look forward to partnering with families throughout the school year to be prepared while also supporting the well-being of each and every Viking. We appreciate your help in reassuring your child of your trust in us to keep them safe at school.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachael Johnson, Principal, or Katie Hardyman, Dean of Students. Our contact information is listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
With Viking Pride,
Rachael Johnson, Principal
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PTO News
Our K-5 PTO is looking forward to many great events this coming year! If you are interested in joining us, we meet the second Wednesday of each month in the Primary Center Multipurpose room at 6:30. Check out our website at www.mhk5pto.com or visit our facebook page! Here is a list of our current and upcoming events:
- Please visit this link to purchase your Bucky Book!
- Friday, October 11th is our Costume Ball from 6:00-7:30 at the IC!
Absence Notification Process - Please Notify The Office
If your child will need to be absent from school for any reason, will be picked up early or have a different going home plan, please use one of the following options to notify the school.
- You may fill out the Absence Request in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal
- Call the PC office at 437-7506 or ELC office at 437-7606
- Email the PC office at pcattendance@mounthorebschools.org or the ELC office at elcattendance@mounthorebschools.org
Please use one of the three options listed above instead of reaching out to the classroom teacher as they may not get your message or may be absent that day and your message will not be received. Using one of the options listed above will insure that your child's absence notification is received in the event that your child has a substitute teacher or your child's teacher hasn't had the opportunity to check their messages. We will always notify the teacher of your absence or going home change requests.
Thank you for your partnership in this matter,
The ELC and PC Offices
Supports Available
Need social-emotional support for your child? Need to problem-solve or check-in with our Student Services team members? We have a team of highly qualified staff who stand on the ready to support you and your student. You can call the PC main office at 437-7506 or ELC main office 437-7606 to be connected to our team, or you can send them an email directly.
Dean of Students: Katie Hardyman, hardymankatie@mounthorebschools.org
School Counselor: Brooke Running, runningbrooke@mounthorebschools.org
School Social Worker: Sophia Langkamp, langkampsophia@mounthorebschools.org
School Social Worker: Megan Handrick, handrickmegan@mounthorebschools.org
School Psychologist/4K Coordinator: Nicole Tepe, tepenicole@mounthorebschools.org
School Nurse: Christy Staats, staatschristy@mounthorebschools.org
RESOURCES
Volunteer Background Check form
Blue Note Form for temporary bus riding changes
Bullying, Harrassment & Intimidation - How to Report It
Early Learning Center
Secretary: Colleen Kittleson, kittlesoncolleen@mounthorebschools.org
Website: https://www.mounthorebschools.org/schools/elc/
Location: 300 Spellman Street, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
Phone: 608-437-7606
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcpc.mounthoreb.7/
Primary Center
Secretary: Lyndsay Evans-Eder, evansederlyndsay@mounthorebschools.org
Website: https://www.mounthorebschools.org/schools/primary/
Location: 207 Academy Street, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
Phone: 608-437-7506
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcpc.mounthoreb.7/