Principal Chat – Episode 2
Rory Moore, Principal at Alberta Rider Elementary, is participating in a series of chats with the PSO. Today’s blog features his key insights on safety at Alberta Rider.
Why are we talking about safety right now?
People who work in schools are always thinking and talking about student safety. Our PSO asked that I write about this topic broadly and comprehensively. I know our parents think about the well-being of their children all the time and I want this to help reassure them that we’re doing everything possible to keep all our kids safe. The timing of this is simply about being responsive to and open with our community.
What role does safety play in your overall school planning?
Alberta Rider primarily focuses on student learning & achievement. To do this we need to ensure all students are safe, requiring a great deal of planning and collaboration with our staff, those at the district level, and our community partners. We vigilantly look to address needs to reduce vulnerability. We want to be as transparent as possible so parents know and feel confident that everything is being done to protect their children. Only what is necessary is shared with students, but ultimately safety is something I don’t want students to spend too much time thinking about so they can focus on enjoying school and learning. With that said, it’s something the adults need to think about all the time.
How do you train staff and teach students?
Our safety committee meets monthly where it plans and evaluates drills and protocol implementation, while also identifying and eliminating potential safety hazards. Our safety committee is very proactive in keeping all students safe and is comprised of our building specialist, office staff, counselor/psychologist, a special education teacher and myself as the principal.
As a staff we formally review all safety protocols at least three times a year and as needed based on our monitoring. Safety protocols are reviewed with staff and students when we return from summer vacation. In December, we review specific protocols as a staff and then teachers remind students after winter break and spring break.
We run monthly fire drills, with many now involving procedures for earthquakes, and also have drills for Lock-Downs & Lock-Outs. These are procedures to protect students from danger both outside and inside of the school. TTSD uses the Standard Response Protocols. You can find more information about these by clicking on the link https://iloveuguys.org/srp.html
How do you help students who need mental health supports?
The biggest impact we can possibly have is to create a welcoming, positive, affirming, and emotionally safe environment for everyone who comes to Alberta Rider. I believe very strongly in the quote from the famous child psychologist, Ross Green, “Kids do well if they can.” If our students aren’t doing well it’s our responsibility as educators and as a community to do everything in our power to help them.
We need to be diligent in identifying and remedying anything that’s potentially dangerous, but a positive and supportive environment will go a long way toward neutralizing potential threats.
TTSD has a number of systems and protocols designed to help kids who struggle, but we’re also very intentional about creating a positive school climate for all students. We utilize PAX in Kinder through 3rd grade and Positive Behavior Intervention Supports or PBIS with all students. This keeps the focus on building healthy and positive adult and peer interaction throughout the day so that we can keep our focus on learning (additional links below).
Nearly every week we have what is called an EBIS meeting. That is an acronym for Effective Behavior & Instructional Support. In these meetings we focus on a specific grade level. Grade level teachers rotate on a weekly basis. Our special education teacher, school counselor/psychologist, literacy specialist, English language development teacher, and myself, the principal, attend every week. The focus of these meetings are academics, behavior and attendance. We use data and teacher feedback to provide supports for students who are struggling in academics, but also with mental health and behavior.
We use this process to provide students with more support if they need it. Those supports could come in a number of different ways, ranging from an individualized plan to teach skills with desired behaviors, connecting a family with an outside counselor, or even something more intensive like a referral for a special education evaluation. Regardless, we partner with families to make data-driven decisions and do everything we can to address student needs.
How can parents help?
Throughout the course of the school year students may come home and reference one of our policies, procedures, or safety drills. It’s important that you listen to your child and reiterate our focus on safety and the importance of preparedness. Remind them how important it is to listen to adults and to ask questions if they don’t understand something. We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe and it benefits everyone when our students understand this.
Alberta Rider is a wonderful school with an incredibly supportive parent community. Parents have a big impact on our culture and climate here at Rider. We are very fortunate to have so many parents that leave their mark here every day. Your continued support and positivity will contribute to making this a safe and affirming place, but with that said, if you as a parent become aware of or see something that concerns you please let us know. You can contact the main office or me directly. I want us to do everything in our power so that all students enjoy and maximize their experience. When we’re focused on that, every child will benefit.
Additional Resources
Safe Oregon
Safe Oregon is a program created for Oregon students, parents, school staff, community members, and law enforcement offices to report and respond to student safety threats. All stakeholders can make anonymous tips in a variety of ways such as a phone call, text, or e-mail. Teachers have made students aware of this resource and we have posters throughout the school. For more information you can got to www.safeoregon.com
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) is a school-wide system that teaches, reinforces, and measures behavior to get the best possible outcomes. With PBIS, schools teach kids about behavior, just as they would teach about other subjects like reading or math. The focus of PBIS is prevention. https://www.pbis.org
Alberta Rider has its own PBIS Manual adapted to our school environment. It can be found under the About Us section on our website.
Second Steps
We use this evidence-based curriculum for all our students K–5. Lessons are taught each week. Using the Second Step curriculum has been shown to decrease problem behaviors, and it’s designed to address bullying while also promoting school success, self-regulation, and a sense of safety and support. http://www.secondstep.org/elementary-school-curriculum
PAX Good Behavior Game
We use this resource as a way to help us cultivate a positive school and classroom environment for all kids. All Kinder through third grade teachers are trained in PAX. PAX is a set of strategies to help students learn important self-management skills while collaborating to make their classroom a peaceful and productive learning environment. Centered on the Good Behavior Game, PAX is not a classroom management program, but it makes managing classrooms much easier. For more information you can go to www.goodbehaviorgame.org
Safe Routes to School
The City of Tigard has initiated a Safe Routes to School program for the Tigard-Tualatin School District elementary and middle schools in the community. This is a dynamic program that addresses many needs, but its primary focus is to create the conditions necessary to promote safe student routes to school and decrease traffic. At Alberta Rider we’re specifically utilizing this program to give the city feedback on how to address conditions on Bull Mountain. Contact the main office if you’re interested in participating. For more information you can visit their website: www.tigard-or.gov/community/safe_routes.php