Principal Chronicles

Thank you for your patience and support as we get another school year started. The transition back to school can be difficult for some students. Please do your best to get them into school on a daily basis. Establishing a daily routine will make this easier over time. Please reach out to our counselors, Mrs. Lychalk (East Pike) and Mrs. Obarto (Horace Mann and Eisenhower) for help. The problem may be new for you but it isn't for them. Feel free to reach out. We appreciated getting to know those who attended our Back to School Nights. It was great to see so many people in our schools again.

Here are some of the Highlights of this Newsletter:

• School Wide Positive Behavior Support - PBIS
• Upcoming Events
• School Pride Pics
• Safety Trainings (See Letters)
• CKLA Reading Celebrations

You may have heard the BUZZ about PBIS! Positive Behavior Intervention Supports is a program supported by both Horace Mann and East Pike Elementary to promote and maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. It is a school-wide strategy for helping all students achieve important social and learning goals. We know that when good behavior and good teaching come together, our students will excel in their learning.

At Horace Mann, we focus on the pillars of being Respectful, Compassionate, and Responsible.

At East Pike, we focus on the pillars of being Positive, In Control, Kind, Engaged and Respectful.

Our school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports system help students learn the behavior expectations for the following areas in our school: Classroom, Hallway, Restroom, Playground, Lunchroom, and Bus.

As part of the PBIS program, we have established several clear expectations for the desired behaviors in all areas of our school. We have explicitly taught these expectations to the students and reward them frequently with "Mann Money" or "Piker Points". Students also have the opportunity to get their name on the Principal's 100 Board where they can receive rewards for their great behavior. The expectations for all student behavior are clear throughout our building and playground areas, cafeteria, gymnasium, buses, and classrooms. You will be able to ask your student, "What are the expectations in your school?" "How do you follow those expectations?" "What happens when a teacher sees you following the rules/expectations?" And they should be able to give you an explanation.

These expectations specifically address negative behaviors, provide for a safe school environment and give more time for instruction. We apply consistent consequences and positive reinforcement for all kids. By detailing every expected behavior and teaching to kids in a positive way, we provide a common language for everyone in our building, including students, teachers, front office staff, lunchroom staff, bus drivers, custodians, and our paraprofessionals.

We believe that by helping students practice good behavior, we build a school community where all students have an environment where they can learn, succeed and grow. We have attached a PBIS Behavior Matrix. Please contact us at school if you have any additional questions about the program.

September 16th, 2022

Dear Families,

The safety and welfare of our students and staff are our highest priorities. To provide schools an opportunity to practice emergency response procedures, the District has planned assemblies in all of our schools regarding threat preparedness. The assemblies will be led by Mr. Robert Fatula, IASD Safety Consultant, and Mr. Michael Travis, IASD Safety and Security Coordinator.

These training sessions will take place at: East Pike September 16th.

Horace Mann on September 23rd.

The purpose of these assemblies is to make our students aware of the appropriate response in time of an emergency. This includes a discussion on the school’s preparedness for an “Active Shooter” scenario. I realize this is a difficult conversation to have with our students and I assure you that the presenter will structure his comments to the appropriate context when considering his audience.

Over the past five years, the District has taken a variety of steps to increase our preparedness and awareness regarding these types of unfortunate events. The training drill aims to improve our ability to protect students, save lives, and reduce injuries. As part of the District’s plan, I feel it is necessary to conduct these school-wide assemblies to help staff and students understand the topic and be prepared to the best of our ability in the case of an active shooter scenario. In October, we will conduct rally point drills that serve as an extension to the training mentioned above.

As a District, we deliberately do not publish every detail of our safety plan as we feel that would make our schools more vulnerable to a person who might want to do harm to our children. However, we can tell you that we routinely review the lockdown procedures in every building and have gone over these procedures with our staff members.

In closing, we are committed to doing everything it takes to keep our students safe. These drills and assemblies are a part of our overall safety plan. If you feel that the topic of “Active Shooter” is too sensitive for your child, please contact your child’s school to request that they be removed from the classroom training/assembly. Each school will have a location for those families who wish not to be a part of the day’s conversation.

All the best,

Kevin Edmondson

Don Springer

Dear Families:

I previously wrote to you earlier this month explaining the District’s intention to conduct threat preparedness assemblies/training. As a follow-up, the District has planned a series of rally point drills. In mid to late October, the District will conduct rally point drills led by the District’s Safety and Security Consultant, Mr. Robert Fatula, and IASD Safety and Security Coordinator, Mr. Mike Travis.

The purpose of these drills is to make our students aware of the appropriate response in the time of an emergency. This includes responding to an “Active Shooter” scenario. Please make note that no gunshots/blanks will be fired during these drills at any time. We will be practicing our ability to move to a rally point.

As you are aware, the District has taken a variety of steps to increase our preparedness and awareness regarding these types of unfortunate events. The goals of the training drill are to improve our ability to protect students, save lives, and reduce injuries. As part of the District’s plan, I feel it is necessary to conduct these school-wide drills to help staff and students understand the topic as well as be prepared to the best of our ability in the case of an active shooter scenario.

In closing, we are committed to doing everything it takes to keep our students safe. Please be advised that students will be dismissed at the regular time on the day of their building-level training. These drills are a part of our overall safety plan. If you do not want your child to participate in the rally point drills, please contact your child’s school to request that they be removed from the drill. Each school will have a location for those students who wish not to be a part of the day’s conversation.

All the best,

Michael Vuckovich

Superintendent

September 19

Outreach Committee Meeting, 5:00pm

Buildings, Grounds & Transportation Committee Meeting, 5:30pm

September 23

Horace Mann Safety Presentations in Classrooms

September 26

Audit and Finance Committee Meeting, 5:30pm

IASD School Board Meeting, 7:00pm

September 27th

Horace Mann Picture Day

October 5th

PTA Meeting - Horace Mann Cafeteria

6-7:30

*To attend Committee or Board Meetings virtually or in-person,

please visit www.iasd.cc for more information!