Dear ISD Parents,

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and healthy new year and hope 2013 will be a year that brings peace and joy to you and your families.  Thank you also for the many special holiday treats which we enjoyed and contributed to our festive spirits.   In addition, I want to thank those of you who donated canned goods and other food items for Neighbor to Neighbor as a reflection of the giving season.  As a result, we were able to donate a large collection of food to them.

On Tuesday, January 8th, the staff, students and I will participate in a Lockdown Drill.  This drill had been originally scheduled earlier in the year but cancelled due to the hurricane and rescheduled for this coming week.  It is important that the staff and students know what to do should an emergency arise.  Teachers will be reviewing procedures with students on Monday.  They will not be engaging students in discussions about recent events but sticking to sharing the drill routines, just as we do for fire drills.  When we conduct a lockdown drill, members of the fire and police departments are on hand to participate and provide feedback to us.  

You may want to discuss this drill with your children over the weekend, if you think it is necessary.  If you do, I suggest you do so in a manner that is calm and matter-of-fact.  If your child demonstrates a high level of anxiety about it, please let me know on Monday.

The beginning of the a new calendar year is a good time to share some reminders.  We have tightened up security procedures and doors are locked at 8:45.  After that time, students who are then considered tardy, must ring the buzzer to be let it, stop in the office and receive a late pass.  Please try to have your children here by 8:30 to avoid these extra steps and have them start the day routinely.  Conversely, doors are unlocked in the afternoon just as the first group of bus students is dismissed.  Parents are to wait outside the building.  I realize we are in the midst of winter but it is important that all adults wait outside the school building to allow students to pass safely through the main doors.  Thank you for your understanding of this matter.  Related to this, if you are coming in to school, you need to ring the buzzer to be let in, stop in the office and share the purpose of your visit.  Parents attending Classical Cafe events will sign in at the desk in the main hallway, obtain a visitor's sticker and proceed to the cafeteria.

Another timely reminder is related to absences.  If your child is absent, please call the office to inform us of their absence.  This can be done at anytime by leaving a message if the office is not open.  If you wish to inform your child's teacher as well, that is fine, but the office should be the first contact.

Thank you, Terry Ricci