Safety & Reflections

Safety First

Thank you all for a very successful lockdown drill.  You have yet to see the updated firedrill, lockdown, and evacuation procedures because FUSD is making some changes in their crisis response plans.  I intend to continue my involvement on the FUSD Safety Committee to bring you the most current information.  Along these lines, I highly encourage you to check out this amazing opportunity coming to parents and teachers next week (all info below).

Thursday 6-8pm@SMS
ADULTS ONLY

This will be one of the most intensive, interactive, educational, and inspiring parent trainings you will ever attend!  It will bring you heightened awareness and knowledge in how to prepare for and respond to an active lethal threat event involving a lockdown situation at your student’s school.  Parents will learn why they need to have this conversation with their students and understand the importance of their student having their own personal survival plan should an active lethal threat event occur at their school.

The objectives of this 2-hour training are to:

-Teach parents to understand why lockdown plans are critical to have in place in their local schools
-Discuss and learn from numerous actual national school shooting events and learn what survival tactics lead to death versus those that lead to life! 
-Learn L.E.A.S.T., Lockdown, Evacuation and Survival Tactics, and understand why their student should know these tactics
-Understand the needs of their local school during a lockdown event
-Realize the importance of having a conversation with their student before an incident occurs
-To provide those on scene of an Active Killer event the tools necessary to increase their survival rate! 
-TO SAVE LIVES! 

About the Trainer:  Jesus M. Villahermosa, Jr./President/Owner

Crisis Reality Training, Inc.

Jesus Villahermosa was a Sgt. who served in Pierce County, Washington as a law enforcement officer for over 32 years and retired in 2014.  During that time, he served on the P.C.S.D. S.W.A.T Team for 30 years of dedicated service as the point man on the entry team. His numerous certifications include being the first certified Master Defensive Tactics Instructor for law enforcement personnel in the state of Washington and serving as a Firearm's Instructor and an Active Shooter Instructor. Villahermosa also served as the Director of Campus Safety at Pacific Lutheran University in a contract partnership with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Villahermosa's experience as a law enforcement officer has fueled his passion for people and their emotional, mental, and physical safety. Jesus has spoken nationally as a safety consultant for over 32 years and presented on safety-related issues with a focus on Active Killers and surviving such an event. Jesus has trained over 650,000 professionals throughout the country, including hundreds of colleges, universities, school districts and some of the largest corporations in America. Jesus' knowledge of the various professions he has worked with and the many challenges its students, parents, staff and employees face, along with his humor, real-life stories from the streets, and the practical application of the taught techniques, makes this a training you will not want to miss!

Marshall Photos

Many of you were here in 2015 when Marshall became the #1 swatted school in 2015.  The call would come in from a "live shooter", claiming to be either in the building or on the roof, threatening to "kill hundreds of children". We were terrified, we were confused, we endured it 4 times (4/15, 4/20, 5/13, 8/31).  The photos alone bring back that terror.  Changing our phone number stopped the cycle.  The criminal from New York was caught and we continue to "drill" to best prepare for any unknown that comes our way.  Why would I bring this up?  Because it is important.  Our local police and SWAT know Marshall.  We continue to talk to our students about safety and we will continue to practice and problem-solve the "what if" scenarios.  If you would like to be more involved in Marshall's safety plans, I welcome you.  Should you choose to attend the training on Thursday, let me know.  I'll save you a seat. 

On a lighter note....(good grief ) 

We are 27 days without cops!  If you have seen them here, I assure you it is simply to walk around, greet the children and let you know they are here for us.  Coincidentally, we also 27 days into the school year!  Do you know how much we, as a whole, have accomplished for almost 500 students?  I am beyond proud of our first month.  I urge you take a few minutes to reflect on what you have done.  

Make time to reflect on: 

~the progress you have made with those students who present challenges.  

~the plans you have put into place to thwart disruptions and set students up for success.  

~the problems you not only identified but collaboratively and creatively solved.  

~the lessons you nailed.  

~the lessons you will certainly do differently next time.  

~the new relationships you are cultivating with parents.  

~the innovative ideas that excite you.

Together, we rise!

Pledge and Announcements 

Thank you 5th graders for kicking off our new tradition.  I propose the following schedule for announcements beginning the week of September 24th- May 30th:

Mondays: 4th graders (includes Arnold 4/5)

Tuesdays: 3rd graders (includes 3/4 SEI)

Wednesdays: 2nd graders (includes 1/2 SEI)

Thursdays: 1st graders

Fridays: kindergartners
Please work out a schedule among your grade level teams.  You can send one or two (nerves).  They are so excited to do it and they are already so good at it. 

Coming Up

Tuesday, September 18th

Fit Kids heights and weights

Lincoln Investment Retirement Info 11:30am-1:15pm in teacher lounge

Wednesday, September 12th 

Reasor at Elementary Admin

Parenting Arizona - Active Parenting Workshop in the gym 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday, September 13th 

Picture Day!
4th grades at water festival

Rittmann/Bianco at Buddha Beach

Crisis Reality Training at SMS 6-8pm

Friday, September 14th 

Gallop Kick-off Pep Rally

9:00-9:25am (grades 3-5)

9:30-10:00am (PreK-2)
1:30-3:30pm Marshall PD - STEAMing                                
Habitat/Garden Outdoor Learning Area (1:30-2:30)
JT (TerraBIRDS) will begin with 1 hour tour of Marshall’s Habitat/Garden area. Tour will include the 12 year history of the space and curriculum development.  Future projects will be discussed and teachers will schedule their focus with JT. 
Science Lab Tutorial (2:30-2:50)
Science Lab tour, sign up, set up and inventory access.
FOSS Next Generation Science Kit Warehouse (2:50-3:10)
Tour/layout of kit warehouse, sign out sheet, packaging and re-order inventory processes. 

STEAMing Wrap-up (3:10-3:30)