From the Principal's Desk
Hello IHM Parents!
After yesterday's tragedy, I want to make sure to communicate all the safety measures we have in place. Over the last several years, we have focused on expanding our safety and security at IHM. We had this as the focus for the Home and School auction in 2022 and used those funds to put phones in every classroom and redo all the outside doors so there is only key card entry in a few of them. We had a comprehensive evaluation of our campus by Secure Education/Environment Consultants (SEC) done in late 2022, and followed their recommendations for more security cameras with better quality, a new PA system to reach every corner of the buildings and outside, and more training for staff. Here is what they said in their summary BEFORE we made the above improvements:
"SEC believes that Immaculate Heart of Mary School has done a remarkable job in developing and executing extremely comprehensive safety and security plans, and it currently provides very safe and secure environments for its staff and students. It was obvious to SEC that there has been a significant amount of thought and effort put into successfully integrating sound physical design features with comprehensive policies and procedures. SEC commends Immaculate Heart of Mary School on its strategy to enhance existing physical security measures and to expand on both safety and security related equipment and emergency protocol training regimens."
Here is a list of the existing and new protocols and improvements in the last several years:
- New and clear security cameras around the perimeter of the school and church and the hallways
- New windows for all of the school and preschool buildings with glass reinforced by safety film
- "Night Lock" system for classroom doors to secure the door into the floors
- Device in the front office with an emergency "button" that gives us immediate priority contact with GRPD and notifies us of police scanner information in case of an emergency
- All exterior doors remain locked at all times during the school day
- Main entrance requires visual confirmation before access to the vestibule, and then a second visual confirmation before access to the office, so all visitors must go through the office following 2-step verification
- Comprehensive safety plans developed by the Diocese of Grand Rapids
- 2 lockdown/shelter in place drills, 6 fire drills, and 2 tornado drills done annually
- Regular communication with GRPD and our community officer
- Evening janitor does a safety check each evening
- Door R where children come in in the morning is monitored by an adult, rather than just propped open for students to enter the building
- Every classroom has a phone with its own identifiers in an emergency
- New PA system with more speakers in the building and outside on the building so that we can reach everyone in an emergency
- Many doors had the handles on the outside removed and the locks removed so they are exit only
- Emergency response agencies from Grand Rapids have detailed drawings of our building
- Safety training for faculty and staff included a Critical Incident Response training with a simulation as well as two tabletop (situational) trainings
- Any visitor who is permitted into the building during the school day will have identifying badge or visitor's badge obtained by the office
- Teachers must indicate in the office when they leave the building with their students for adoration or extra recess or a field trip
- If there is an event during the day in the DeMazenod room with visitors, the door between the school and the DeMazenod room is locked
- Threat Assessment protocol provided by the Kent ISD
- Go bags in every classroom
- AED stations
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Our student internet safety is monitored by Bark. More information at https://www.bark.us/.
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Go Guardian security is used for monitoring student computer use by teachers. More information at https://www.goguardian.com/
After yesterday's heartbreaking violence, we will be looking carefully at our Mass protocols and I've already reached out to our community officer to help us with that process. It is so sad that we have to look at these things, and I am just reminded that this is a broken world and we need Jesus now more than ever. Father Troy shared this "A litany to be prayed after a school shooting" from Catholic New Agency that I thought was a beautiful thing in this sad time. Consider praying it at home in an age-approprate way with your children to ask Mary and the Saints to pray and intercede for us.
Have a wonderful extended weekend!
Blessings,
Mrs Holly Lake
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