Peace be with you! As I laid my son and daughter down to bed this evening, my thoughts continue to be where they have been the entire weekend: grief for the victims of the Connecticut tragedy and our own Academy. May of you have shared thoughts with me over this weekend, I have received more messages on this topic than I can realistically respond to individually. While I highly value everyone's input, I would like to share some further thoughts collectively.
It is clear that the unspeakable tragedy that occurred in Connecticut was perpetrated by a deranged individual who was armed with military style assault weapons. There was nothing in that school, our school, or virtually any other elementary school that could have withstood the attack that allowed the gunman to gain entry into the school. Unless every window on the first floor level was filled in with brick and the doors made of reinforced steel, that man was going to gain entry into that school. This is a sobering fact, but it also highlights the importance of having all staff members trained on how to handle such a crisis. While I only know what has been reported in the media, I believe that there is a good chance that the final investigation will prove that the actions of the teachers in that school saved lives. Surely, even one child lost is a terrible tragedy however given the unimaginable circumstances that the faculty of that school faced it seems likely that their training on how to hide students and move them to safer locations may well have prevented more deaths.

I have played this scenario over and over in my mind all weekend. The following thoughts have emerged as I have been thinking and strategizing:

• Many of the suggestions that have been sent to me deal with controlling access to the buildings. This is a weak point in the security in any school, and one that bears examination in our school. I must point out that this has less to do with the Connecticut tragedy and more to do with general security. News accounts report that the gunman in Connecticut was not granted access voluntarily; i.e. he was not buzzed in. He most likely used a weapon to break the door. Nonetheless, entry security is an area of weakness. One practice that occurs frequently is parents and students holding the door for the next person to enter the building, or opening the door for someone before they are buzzed in. The reason people do this is simple: they with to be helpful and polite. Unfortunately, this is also a security risk. Students will be firmly instructed to not open the door or hold the door for any person who has not been buzzed in. Parents, I need your assistance on this as well. PLEASE DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR OR HOLD THE DOOR FOR ANYONE. Each party should be buzzed in separately.
• Emergency Drills have been practiced at our Academy for the past 5 years, but our process can always stand updating based on changing conditions. Our lock down procedure (Code Yellow) will be practiced with increased frequency and will no longer be announced ahead of time. Our teachers already know to try their best to conceal students, be it against the hallway wall of the classroom, under furniture, or in the closets. They also cover all classroom windows. Being out of sight is one way to keep a gunman off balance and/or slow him or her down. It seems that this practice saved lives in Connecticut; we already follow this practice. The Administrative Team will be assessing the Code Yellow procedures this week and making modifications where necessary.
• The long-standing practice of permitting impromptu non-parental visitors (alumni, etc.) will be suspended indefinitely. Visits by anyone aside from scheduled parents will only be permitted by prior permission and with my permission, or that of Mrs. Rivera in my absence.
• All locking mechanisms in the school and the control of keys will be closely examined this week, and changed made where necessary.

These initial steps are designed to tighten the security of the Academy with the purpose of protecting our students. One side effect of most security measures is increased inconvenience, and it is my hope that everyone can accept some inconvenience in the name of the safety of our students.

Please continue to pray for those affected by the events in Connecticut, and the safety of all students in all schools.

Our school counselor, Mrs. Bricker, will be in school all week. Students who develop a need to speak with her during the day will be permitted to do so. Also, if you feel that there is something that your son or daughter has expressed that you think we should be aware of, please contact Mrs. Bricker and copy me.

Finally, never forget to hug and kiss your sons and daughters every morning before the day begins and each day when they go to bed. No matter how old, not matter how much it might "annoy" them.