Dear Bloomfield Hills Schools community,
As part of the district’s mission to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens in a safe and supportive environment, we understand the great importance of creating a safe and supportive learning space. We know that students learn best when they feel safe, feel a sense of belonging, and understand their important role in the learning process.
Next week is our third annual BHS Safety Week (October 16-20). As we move into Safety Week, we are thankful for the resources that we have across our district, especially during times of uncertainty. We are proud to be part of a profession that nurtures and supports students by providing a safe and welcoming place to learn.
As our children, no matter their ages, learn or hear of violence happening in our world, they may have questions or express concerns. BHS compiled some resources on our Health and Wellness page to aid in at-home conversations.
Please know that our counselors, psychologists, and social workers will continue to provide support to any student that is having a difficult time. Our schools have crisis intervention teams that are made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel and our School Resource Officers are present daily in our buildings.
What is Safety Week?
Safety Week is a way for the district to reinforce our safety protocols and to ensure that our communication systems are in proper working order for all individuals in our school community. It takes place during America's Safe Schools Week (October 16-22) which is sponsored by the National School Safety Center, state governors, and state school superintendents.
During our Safety Week, students may experience preparedness training, meet with our school resource officers and police partners, and learn more about reporting tools. Students will have the opportunity to participate in an optional mental health activity and we will test our communication systems allowing the district to locate and correct any issues.
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How to prepare for Safety Week
1. Ensure Correct Contact Information in Parent Portal
Families can prepare for Safety Week by updating their phone numbers and email addresses in the Parent Portal. Parent Portal syncs with Remind, which is the tool that we use to communicate with our families in many ways, including snow days, school closures, or important updates. Updating your information in the Parent Portal will ensure the district has your most up-to-date contact information on record. Do not update your information in Remind directly, please use the Parent Portal. Please note it may take up to 24 hours for your information to be updated.
2. Student Preparedness Training
Bloomfield Hills Schools uses ALICE protocols in the unlikely event of a critical incident.
ALICE is an acronym used to help students and staff recall the important elements of an emergency/lockdown drill.
A - ALERT
L – LOCKDOWN
I – INFORM
C – COUNTER
E – EVACUATE
A resource that is used in Bloomfield Hills Schools in our elementary buildings is “I’m Not Scared…I’m Prepared!” by Julia Cook. If you want to read this book in your home as well, the Bloomfield Township Public Library has purchased several copies that will be available for families to check out.
3. Talk about Safety with your Children
You may also choose to talk to your children about how we all have a role to play in school and student safety. Encourage students to talk to a trusted adult when something doesn't seem right or if they have any concerns about their safety or the safety of others. A resource available to everyone in Michigan to keep schools safe is OK2SAY. OK2SAY is a state-wide tip line and encourages confidential tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees or schools. Their phone number is 855-565-2729 (8-555-OK2SAY). Their text number is 652729 (OK2SAY) and their email is OK2...@MI.GOV.
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We are committed to continuing to improve our processes and create safe learning environments for our students and staff. As always, thank you for your support and you’ll hear more from us next week.
Sincerely,
Dr. Randy Liepa
Interim Superintendent
