As a district, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety of our students, our staff and our school as a whole. This week, as we head into spring break, we ask you to remain extra vigilant of behaviors that threaten the safety of our students, such as bringing knives and real/toy guns to school, fighting/aggression, and inappropriate posts online and in social media. Together with our parent team, our school team can ensure the safest learning environment for our students.
In an attempt to set expectations for student behavior and a learning environment this week that is free of disruption, our School Team will be doing some or all of the following:
- Review PBIS schoolwide expectations for behavior with students.
- Share with students that any student who sees or hears something that makes them feel unsafe should tell a trusted adult.
- Complete a schoolwide monitoring and supervision review.
- Require hall passes for all students – no exceptions.
- Monitor students in transition and students in hallways by ALL teachers and staff in building.
- No student cell phone use during class.
- Host lunch in classrooms to increase supervision, if needed.
- Search backpacks, desks, lockers, personal effects due to any reasonable suspicion.
- Staggered release and/or transitions to reduce large grouping of students
In an attempt to set expectations for student behavior and a learning environment this week that is free of disruption, we need our Parent Team to do the following:
- Closely monitor and review your student’s online and social media posts.
- Every morning this week, check your student’s backpack for foods, dangerous items, etc. before they leave for school.
- Ensure that all types of weapons maintained in the home (all types of knives, airsoft guns, toy guns, real guns, etc.) are secured/locked in a safe place in home and not accessible to your student(s).
- Seek help from school if your student is talking about violence, is angry or making any type of threat towards self or others. Please contact your school’s counselor, administrator, or other trusted adult who can connect you with resources or help needed.
- If you become aware of any information that poses a threat to student, staff or school safety, call 911 if it’s an emergency or report to our anonymous FCS Tip Line at the following link: https://www.fultonschools.org/fcstipline.
We want to be clear in communicating any student behavior that leads to a threat in safety and/or a school disruption will result in the most severe discipline and police intervention available. We will not allow any student(s) to compromise the positive learning environment and safety for our students here at Innovation Academy.
The responsibility for keeping our students, staff and schools safe is a top priority for ALL of us. Thank you for your continued diligence and partnership to ensure Students First, Safety First.