Principal's Letter

Dear All Saints Families, 

Today, our second grade class received their First Reconciliation.  It was a beautiful time when our students felt love and closeness with Jesus Christ.  It is a truly wonderful event for the parents/faculty to see the joy in the eyes of the children after they have been forgiven.  Following this event, the third through eighth grade classes attended Reconciliation for the Lenten Season.  Although we go to Reconciliation twice a year as a school, Advent and Lent, we encourage our families to receive this Sacrament as a family unit at other times.  It is important for our children to see their parents invested in their faith as well.  It is most definitely not an easy sacrament for myself, but I always attend with our students to be a role model of our Faith.

Despite the wonderful things happening at our school, the school shooting in Parkland is still raw in our minds.  Last Friday, we had a planned School Crisis Response Team meeting to review active shooting training.  Never does one think there will be training in such matters instead of best teaching strategies or how to reach every child.  As the administrator, I must find an appropriate balance among all trainings.  However, I wish to assure our families that safety is a key concern for the Diocese, Governing Pastors, Administration, and all school personnel.  Since my hiring as principal, we have replaced our school intercom system, added cameras throughout our school, completed a safety survey by professionals in the field, implemented trainings and drills with the Jupiter Police Department, and adopted the Check-in System.  There is only one way into the school during the regular day - the front door.  Our front staff will only buzz someone in that they recognize and feel is safe.  If there is any question, name and purpose of visit is required.  Please be aware that individuals have been denied entrance. However, we do witness countless parents passing the open door to others behind them.  We are aware you may know individuals, but you may not know circumstances or concerns about that individual.  Please DO NOT pass the open door to any individual, as stated on the door sign.  If an unknown individual enters the building he/she is watched closely and an emergency button in the office can put us on immediate lock down. I was so proud of one of our aids who refused to give a student in the lunchroom to the new Title One Speech Therapist who had lost her ID badge.  She immediately instructed the women to go back to the office.  A call was made to the office immediately from the cafeteria that she was on her way. 

There is much on social media about how schools can become safer from equipment to the low cost of hiring a guard at the door.  Please be aware that I have inquired about so many products and personnel over the past few years.  So much appears ideal on the surface, but in reality does not help.  It is so sad that there is such angry debate now how to improve things.  Our emotions and our most primal need to protect our children have been brought to the surface.  I want to assure our parents that safety and security is huge in our minds.  We cannot share with our families all we do as a plan in a crisis, as that information given to the general public can leave us vulnerable. 

It is difficult to talk to your children about such things, but please reassure with them that All Saints is safe.  Stress to them about following safety rules and staying with the class.  Remind our students if they see something on social media, say something.  Today, we want to be informed, but parents and students do not want to cross the line of social appropriateness or embarrassment by saying something.  We are afraid to socially insult someone.  Peer pressure is enormous in the minds of our students. Re-iterate to our students that using cell phones in a crisis puts them at greater risk of making noise and being identified and not concentrating on the task at hand.  Calling parents after a crisis would be preferred, not during the crisis.  Please realize that many of our parents are background checked, but many are not. Our check-in system is critical to safety.  Please do not get angry with our front office personnel for not letting you in when you do not have a valid ID to process.  Also, please do not assume your child is completely supervised and safe during school-wide events such as sports, Movie Night, the Christmas show, HSA Italian Night, and the drama performance.  Too often we find students of all ages wandering the school alone.  On those events parents are responsible for their children as personnel are busy arranging the event or present as an audience member. Seeing a little one alone looking for a parent concerns me deeply.  Please be aware of your surroundings and keep your children close.

Also, in early March, we will be having a short parent meeting about security.  We hope to have one of our representatives from the partnering safety companies present with us during that meeting to share his expertise.  We are dedicated to the education, safety, and happiness of your child.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Jill Broz

Helping Hands:

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