Greetings Kent Community,

Level 2 Lockdown Drill Preparations — The safety of our students and staff is a top priority, and throughout the year, we prepare for different types of emergency situations. During advisory class this week we will be engaging students in a difficult discussion about scenarios that would require a lockdown at our school. Back in December, we discussed level 1 lockdowns, and this week we will discuss the more serious level 2 lockdowns.

As you may recall from a previous newsletter, a level 1 lockdown is initiated when there is an unsafe situation in our community, like a wild animal on the loose or criminal activity in the neighborhood. Classrooms are locked and students remain inside, yet typical classroom instruction continues.

A level 2 lockdown is a different situation entirely. A level 2 lockdown is initiated when there is fear that an individual intends harm to people at our school. This is most commonly referred to as an active shooter scenario. This scenario is very difficult to discuss with children in school, however given the realities of the world we live in, this is an essential and required process to go through with our school.

During our Wednesday advisory lesson this week Ms. Holmes and I will present a video we have created which introduces the level 2 lockdown process. In this video, we do use and define the phrase "active shooter," though also try to balance terminology by using the term "threat" most of the time when referencing people who may intend harm. We also introduce guidance from our local police agencies, which directs students and staff to prepare to Run, Hide, or Fight during a level 2 lockdown situation. We briefly describe what running, hiding, and fighting could look like in a level 2 lockdown scenario, and encourage children to trust their judgment and use their discretion should this type of threatening situation occur at Kent.

On the afternoon of February 15, we will partner with our School Resource Officer to conduct a level 2 lockdown drill on the Kent campus. During this lockdown students will seek refuge in their classrooms, and practice the process of locking doors, turning off lights, building a barricade against exterior doors, and sheltering in place silently. We intend for this drill to be orderly and brief, and this Wednesday’s advisory lesson is designed to prepare students for what to expect, and to answer the many questions that will come up about lockdown situations at our school.

Unfortunately, the realities of the world that we live in require that we engage our students in preparation for this most troubling of circumstances. You have our commitment to present the concept in as safe and supportive a way as possible, while ensuring that your child receives the information they need to stay safe should the unimaginable happen here. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding our school safety plan or lockdown procedures at Kent.

YouthTruth Student Survey — Our students will be taking the student YouthTruth survey this week at Kent so that we can hear directly from them about how they are experiencing school. The YouthTruth survey is a computer-based questionnaire that will take about 30 minutes to complete. The anonymous survey asks students questions about academic, social, creative, and personal endeavors, and their reflections about school and adults in their lives. We look forward to learning from our students’ perceptions of school, so that we can continue in our pursuits to support every child to find connection, intrigue, and interest at Kent.