An Average “Back to School Night” in the Era of Mass Shootings
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“Lockdown, Lockdown, Lock the door
Shut the lights off, Say no more
Go behind the desk and hide
Wait until it’s safe inside
Lockdown, Lockdown it’s all done
Now it’s time to have some fun!”
…The words go with the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
— Allyson Chiu reporting for the Washington Post
Hello Parents!
We are so excited to welcome your kindergarteners to Shady Valley. I see some familiar faces in the crowd! Raise your hand if you’ve attended our Back to School night before? Wonderful! I know you’re all eager to visit your child’s classroom, see their adorable self-portraits, and assess the viability of the supply closet as a safe room, but first we need to review some quick housekeeping items including the new “procedures” we’ve implemented this year as part of the district’s recent adoption of ALiCE protocol.
In your folders, you’ll find several handouts addressing our most frequently asked questions — start times, bus schedules, a list of therapists specializing in gun trauma. I know most of you have already purchased the school supplies each teacher requires, but I want to make you aware that in addition to our usual line of spirit-themed backpacks, matching lunch bags, and hand sanitizer, this year we’ve found another vendor who specializes in camouflage, bulletproof lunch bags that double as protective vests and GPS trackers. They even offer complimentary monogramming!
Please dress your child in comfortable clothing suitable for crafting and running every day. At Shady Valley we believe strongly in the importance of play and of being able to evacuate quickly. In under 90 seconds, we can empty this building and both trailers of all 470 kids through the field and into our newest play structure, “The Castle” — an ongoing class project where students are encouraged to add sandbags to the walls during Free Play. We’re building minds, bodies, AND a bunker.
Regarding Phys Ed, we’ve diversified the list of approved activities to include cross-curriculum skills such as running in zig zags, hurling sports equipment at attackers, and…
