School Closings
Dear Parents and Guardians:
It is getting that time of year again to give out a reminder when it comes to school closings as well as proper attire for the elements outside. Our recent emergency closing reiterates the cause for us to remind everyone of our procedures. With cold weather upon us, please be sure that your children are properly dressed for the weather. It is very important that students are bundled up, especially those who have to wait at bus stops, as well as, ready to go outside at school. We will have recess outside provided the temperature and wind chill are above 20 degrees.
In the event that school would be closed because of inclement weather or some other emergency issue, student safety will always be the first concern in making that determination. A major factor in arriving at the decision is collaboration with the bus company to ensure that students on bus routes can arrive safely. When school is cancelled, we will enact the AlertNow system, contact local radio station WLPO and post it on our own website. You can also check WLPO’s website for updates of school closings. Our primary means of contact will be done through the AlertNow system.
The AlertNow system is an automated messaging system used to communicate with parents for emergency and non-emergency reasons. When receiving a message, please keep the following in mind:
- The system is an automated system used to communicate with parents.
- The system could be used both as a phone call as well as an E-mail. (Not every notice will automatically have a simultaneous E-mail)
- The numbers given at registration are the numbers used for contact. (The system only has two numbers that are used for contact and will not go beyond the primary numbers)
- It is imperative that the school has up-to-date information of contacts, so please notify the school of any changes in contact information.
- If you are not home, the system should leave a message on your answering machine.
- The district phone number will be displayed on your caller ID when an announcement goes out.
- If it is an emergency closing that goes out, it may not appear as the school’s phone number on display, but could be 411 and a number after that.
Please be sure that we are up-to-date with your correct information to ensure that you will receive a call through our AlertNow system. If you have changed phone or E-mail, contact the Washington office.
Once students are in school, it would be very rare that we dismiss school early due to the range in ages of the children. It is very hard to make sure that all parents could be contacted and arrangements could be made to ensure that an adult could be home when the children arrive. The safety of the children is the primary concern and school is the safest place once they are already there.
Michael Pillion
Superintendent
