Preparing Graduates, Engaging Minds, Developing Character

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2012-2013 Student Handbook

Sumner County Schools District Parent Involvement Plan 

WHE Home-School Learning Compact

We are all shocked and saddened by the tragedy in Connecticut. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Newtown school community.

The safety of our students and staff is our first priority. We have asked principals to double-check their schools to ensure all security safeguards are in effect and we encourage students to notify school staff if they have any reason for concern about safety in their schools. School Resource Officers from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department work in our high schools, and we use security cameras and other measures to keep our schools safe.

Each of our schools has a crisis and emergency response plan that is reviewed and updated annually. In light of Friday’s events, we have asked all principals to review their emergency plans with staff. A clear understanding of emergency procedures improves our ability to respond effectively in the event of an emergency. Sumner Schools and local emergency management maintain a strong partnership to help prepare for emergencies.

Our school psychologists and social workers are available to assist schools as needed. Schools are often are a good place for children to regain a sense of normalcy. Being with their friends and teachers can help.

We also want to share with parents these tips from the National Association of School Psychologists for helping your children cope with this disturbing news. See www.nasponline.org for more information or to read these tips in Spanish, Korean or Vietnamese.

1. Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately.
2. Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. Be patient. Children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet. Young children may need concrete activities (such as drawing, looking at picture books, or imaginative play) to help them identify and express their feelings.
3. .Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate.
   • Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be balanced with reassurances that their school and homes are safe and that adults are there to protect them. Give simple examples of school safety like reminding children about exterior doors being locked, child monitoring efforts on the playground, and emergency drills practiced during the school day.
   • Upper elementary and early middle schoo lchildren will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools.
   • Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. Emphasize the role that students have in maintaining safe schools by following school safety guidelines (e.g. not providing building access to strangers, reporting strangers on campus, reporting threats to the school safety made by students or community members, etc.), communicating any personal safety concerns to school administrators, and accessing support for emotional needs.

     4.     Review safety procedures. This should include procedures and safeguards at school and at home. Help children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk. 

     5.  Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television viewing and be aware if the television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even teenagers, and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood.

     6.Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and exercise. Encourage them to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.

Suggested Points to Emphasize When Talking to Children

• Schools are safe places. School staff work with parents and public safety providers (local police and fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, etc.) to keep you safe.
• We all play a role in the school safety. Be observant and let an adult know if you see or hear something that makes you feel uncomfortable, nervous or frightened.
• There is a difference between reporting, tattling or gossiping. You can provide important information that may prevent harm either directly or anonymously by telling a trusted adult what you know or hear. 
• Don’t dwell on the worst possibilities. Although there is no absolute guarantee that something bad will never happen, it is important to understand the difference between the possibility of something happening and the probability that it will affect our school.
• Senseless violence is hard for everyone to understand. Doing things that you enjoy, sticking to your normal routine, and being with friends and family help make us feel better and keep us from worrying about the event. Sometimes people do bad things that hurt others. They may be unable to handle their anger, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or suffering from mental illness. Adults (parents, teachers, police officers, doctors, faith leaders) work very hard to get those people help and keep them from hurting others. It is important for all of us to know how to get help if we feel really upset or angry and to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
• Stay away from guns and other weapons. Tell an adult if you know someone has a gun. Access to guns is one of the leading risk factors for deadly violence.
• Violence is never a solution to personal problems. Students can be part of the positive solution by participating in anti-violence programs at school, learning conflict mediation skills, and seeking help from an adult if they or a peer is struggling with anger, depression, or other emotions they cannot control.

NASP has additional information for parents and educators on school safety, violence prevention, children’s trauma reactions, and crisis response at www.nasponline.org.

©2006, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway #402, Bethesda, MD 20814

Bass, Joseph A – MNPS, Dec. 2012

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2012 - 2013 WHE Supply Lists:

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

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Thank you for visiting our Watt Hardison Elementary Website. The Panther staff and students are very proud of Watt Hardison and we invite you to continue on your virtual tour of our school.

The 2012-2013 school year is off to a wonderful start. We have so many exciting events and activities planned for our students this year.  We want every student to want to come to school every day so that our fabulous staff can help and support each child through their educational journey.   We hope each parent will help us as we strive for each of our students to be able to grow and learn to their individual maximum potential.   

Our desire is for our students to come to school and learn, so that when they walk out of our school and into the "real world" they will be able to apply all these skills to be successful in all walks of life.   

We want your child to feel safe and loved by our entire Watt Hardison family. We want all of our students to be excited about the relationships they will build while engaging their minds in new learning experiences on a daily basis.

Our Parent Teacher Alliance (PTA) has been busy working to help us get off to a great start.   We hope you will join our PTA organization and become a Parent Partner to help all of our children reach success for this year.

Our parents and the Portland Community also help to make up our Watt Hardison family. Parents are encouraged to have lunch, assist on field trips or volunteer time in the classrooms and in our school. We want to develop partnerships with members of the community so that we can work together to help our students be successful in all areas of their development. Our PTA and fabulous Parent Partners help to make this a reality.

Everything we do at Watt Hardison Elementary is with the goal of giving our children the best educational year possible. Please stop by and see education excellence at work!

We look forward to seeing you soon!     

Susie Turner