Dear Parents,

Next week, we will be conducting a mandatory lockdown drill as required by the State of New York. These drills are part of a broader effort to ensure that, in the event of an emergency where safety is best ensured behind secured doors, our students and staff are well-prepared. In compliance with New York State guidelines, the exact date and time of the drill will remain unannounced. Over the course of the year, a total of four such drills are mandated by the state.

During the drill, teachers will guide students into their classrooms, secure the doors, and announce “lockdown” in the hallways. Students are expected to remain silent. To signal the conclusion of the exercise, the school’s phone and text alert systems will be utilized. It is important to note that in an actual emergency, emergency services personnel would be responsible for unlocking doors.

These drills are vital in helping us refine our School Safety Plans. We have a dedicated safety committee that regularly reviews and updates our procedures to ensure we are creating the safest environment possible for both students and staff.



In the Middle and Upper Schools, advisors will engage or have already engaged in discussions with their classes regarding the upcoming Safety Drills. These conversations will be age-appropriate and focused on reassurance, ensuring that students understand the purpose and procedures of the drill. 

In the Lower School, teachers will explain the concept of safety drills by emphasizing that just as we practice leaving the building for fire drills, we also practice staying inside for safety drills. The emphasis is on general safety, without references to specific threats. For this reason, the term “Safety Drill” will be used, and no loud alarms will sound, unlike during fire drills. Instead, an announcement will be made through the school’s phone system.

As both parents and educators, we recognize the emotional weight of knowing that lockdown drills are now an essential part of emergency preparedness in all schools. Our aim is to balance the need for safety with providing developmentally appropriate information that fosters a sense of security and care within our school community. Please reach out to me or the Division Heads with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Sarah Chhablani

Dean of Students

Dismissal Dashboard Display Cards

Reminder: we ask that parents who pick their child[ren] up during after-school dismissal use the display signage provided two weeks ago. The goal is to help us quickly identify which child[ren] you are picking up and to ensure their safety by only being dismissed to authorized individuals.

If someone arrives to pick up a Lower or Middle School student without an appropriate Authorized Pick-up Sign, they will be asked to show proper photo identification so an MPH employee can verify that the person is listed as an Authorized Pick-up Contact for the child within Blackbaud.

If you need to add or modify the Authorized Pick-up Contacts for your child at any time, contact klapointe@mphschool.org. You can also email attendance@mphschool.org with any day-of changes to pick-up plans.

If your child[ren] typically uses the bus service, stays after-school, or you don’t pick up your child[ren] in person, you will not receive Authorized Pick-up Signs at this time. However, should your transportation needs change, you are welcome to request a sign at any time.

To request additional Authorized Pick-up Signs, contact klapointe@mphschool.org. We hope this enhancement will improve the efficiency of our pick-up process while maintaining the highest level of security for our students. Thank you for your cooperation and please reach out with any questions.