Contingency Plans

Beginning with Open Circle in kindergarten, teachers in all five schools focus on social emotional learning including, “handling challenging situations constructively.” Last week, students at different ends of the spectrum were called upon to utilize those skills. The high school graduation had to be held inside due to Tropical Storm Andrea, thus disappointing many seniors and their families. Though the setting was not the bucolic town green, the ceremony was wonderful, especially the student speeches. (Read about graduation with links to speeches on district website.)

Last Thursday a contractor hit a gas line near the Field School construction project. Emergency personnel were on site within minutes, taking control of the situation.  Students in Country and Field were sheltered in place with windows and ventilation closed and with Fire personnel monitoring the air. Students at Woodland were asked by the Fire Department to evacuate the building. As planned, teachers and staff walked students into a field at the edge of the cemetery. Police, fire and school personnel were there to greet them. Buses arrived and the students were driven around the block at which point the all clear signal was given and they returned to their school to resume their lessons.

Both Police Chief Steve Shaw and Fire Chief David Soar, who were on scene, praised the students, faculty and staff for the way they handled the event and for being so calm, focused and attentive. A parent who observed the students while they waited for the buses contacted me to share the same thoughts. We are very proud of our students, their teachers and the staff. They utilized skills discussed, learned and practiced in fire drills and in a shelter-in-place drill held earlier in the year.

Cheryl R. Maloney, Ph.D

Superintendent