Security and Safety

As a Principal, one of my top concerns is the security and safety of our students and staff. The tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech has had a tremendous impact on all of us. We mourn with the families and we pray that nothing like that will ever happen again. Since the events at Virginia Tech, there have been a number of schools in our area who have had to evacuate and/or cancel school because students have made threats. I know the only true security is found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gives us hope and comfort and the promise of a better day to come.

I also know there are practical steps we can take to make sure that we do everything we can to keep our school as safe and secure as possible. We can spend thousands of dollars and invest a great deal of resources into the security of our building (and we are) but there are certainly more common-sense steps for school security. The following are just some examples of steps that our organization and perhaps yours should evaluate when thinking about security.

• Keep all outside doors locked.
• Signs should be posted to indicate that visitors must sign-in in the school office before proceeding to any other area.
• Make sure all doors are in good shape and close properly.
• Check the intercom and/or video surveillance/alarm system.
• Be sure that all staff members know the polices and procedures for security.
• Make sure all staff are aware of people who are entering and moving around the complex.
• Designate someone to make a periodic security check.
• Be sure that all teachers and other staff know to securely close all exterior doors.
• Make sure to check all bathrooms and other unsupervised areas.
• Use common sense and don't take unnecessary risks.
• Be aware of what is going on.
• Be sure there are various modes of communication for all key people.
• Think through as many scenarios as possible and plan your resposnes accordingly.
• Don't hestiate to call authorities.
• Use governement agencies to evaluate and recommend ideas concenring security.
• Practice. Practice. Practice your preocedures. Invite "experts" to observe your procedures during mock emergencies.
• Sahre ideas with other organizations. Try to find "best practices" whenever possible.
• Make sure all areas are properly illuminated during the day and night.

We have formed a group called ERPT. ERPT stands for Emergency Response Planning Team. Our group has been evaluating the security and safety of our facility and we have found that there is so much more we can do. This group has been meeting for five months now and we have already established new protocols as we investigate what works best for us.

There is no question that we must all work together and explore every issue concerning the security of our students. God has given us precious gifts in our children and the security and safety of these gifts is a priority that must never be taken for granted. May God bless our efforts and yours as we tend to His flock.

What do you think? What security measures are needed? What is practical and affordable?

Jim Richards

RAMBLINGS ABOUT THE DREADED "H" WORD

Did any of you ever truly like homework? Didn't you prefer playing basketball or playing outside or doing just about anything else in the world except homework. I know I used to hate homework. I thought it wasn't fair that I had to pay attention all day in school and then focus on homework at night. My sister seemed to enjoy homework and I never quite figured that out. Maybe I hated homework because she actually seemed to like it and anything she liked I was completely against.

Now here I am about to write about why homework actually is important. I did some research recently and found a great deal that supports some of the thoughts I have been wrestling with recently.

Is homework worth all that time and effort? My answer is definitely yes! Homework, in a very real sense, extends the school day. The more our students are engaged in actual school subjects, the more they should be comprehending and mastering the material. The more they master the material, the more they should be learning. The more time they are engaged in homework, the less time they are spending watching TV or playing video games. I found recent research that verifies the fact that children spend more time watching TV and playing video games than being instructed by a teacher. Yet, our teachers have a captive audience from 8:00 AM to 2:45 PM. One study showed that most students have spent about 13,000 hours in class by the time they reach 12th grade. They have also spent about 32,900 hours watching TV. Many other nations require their students to go to school many more hours and even sometimes an extra day as compared to students in the United States. Check comparisons of test scores sometime.
Homework also enables students to practice what was taught in the classroom. I remember trying to learn how to juggle. It took a great deal of time, effort, and good old fashioned practice. We have all heard the saying, practice, practice, practice or practice makes perfect. It simply is common sense. The more you practice, the more you master something. The more you work quadratic equations, the easier they become. The effort involved in practice will teach lessons far beyond what the particular assignment was.

Homework can also offer a way for our students to apply what they have learned in class to the real world. Let's assume a teacher instructs the class in being able to figure out if something is fact or fiction and then assigns the class to review a political candidates' speech. An application to real life has occurred. (Probably mostly fiction.) A parent and child then may have an interesting conversation that opens up even more opportunities for learning.

Homework can be a great way for students to learn on their own. It does take a great deal of thought and imagination by the teacher, but if assignments are planned out and care is taken in thinking through the desired outcome, homework can produce opportunities where students are learning things on their own and discovering new and exciting things that can bolster the passion to learn even more. Creating a passion for knowledge is one of the most important goals of education.

As parents and educators, we love throwing around words like: self-motivation, self-reliance, and self-discipline. We all desire for our kids to have these attributes as they grow older. Will TV and video games teach these traits? I think not. Can homework help us teach these attributes? Yes.

Homework also gives parents an opportunity to find out what is being taught in school and how well their child is understanding the concepts. It also gives parents an opportunity to see how their child is doing in trying to cope with deadlines, concepts, and comprehension without the aid of a teacher. It also gives the parent and child an opportunity to interact.

Like I said, these are just ramblings that have been on my mind recently.

What do you think? Write back and tell me what your thoughts are on homework.

Peace.

Jim Richards

Painting With A Four-Year Old

Recently I have been trying to paint my basement. I have no idea why, but there I stood with a paint brush in my hand and great ambitions in my heart. Then it happened... My four year old asked if she could help me paint. With cute little eyes and a big smile on her face, she said, "Please Daddy, can I help you paint the basement?" I thought about the mess she would inevitably create. I thought about how my project would surely slow down. I thought about what brush she would use. I thought about all the time I would have to take to show her how do it right. I knew that this was going to be a mess and I thought about sending her back upstairs to play with Mom or one of my other three kids. (I still haven't found out if my wife sent her down to the basement.) I thought about why I couldn't have some time for myself and actually finish a project.

With an attitude in my voice, I told my little four year old to get some real old clothes on and let Mommy know. She grabbed the paint brush and started to paint just in front of where I was painting. She started by painting circles. She then started to paint pictures of our family. Then unicorns, ducks, dogs, etc.... You get the point. The entire time she was either telling me about her pictures or asking me questions.

The questions from a four year old can often leave you a bit confused.

Daddy:

"Why does the paint dry a different color?"
"How does paint stay on the wall?"
"What do they make the brush out of?"
"Did the unicorn lose her other horn?"
"Can we always paint together?"
"Does Mommy like to paint too?"
"Can I paint my bedroom pink?"
"Does God like to paint?"
"Can I have a drink?"
"Do hamsters smell paint?"
"Are we going to paint the whole basement?"
"Can we have a snack?"
"Did Jesus and God ever paint together?"
"Why do turtles live in a shell?"
"I love cookies and peanut butter."
"Can I go to the bathroom?"
"Do fish sleep?"
"How old were you when first painted?"
"Why do hamsters have to die?"
"Does God ever have nap time?"
"Are you older than Mommy"

On and on it went. She talked to me the entire time.

We painted together for at least two hours. To my surprise, we had a great time. I still tried to get a great deal done but I actually found myself looking forward to her next question or comment. She was so excited, energetic, and happy to help, that I found myself in awe of the of this little girl. She had no idea what she was getting into and neither did I. What turned out was a partially finished messy painted basement and a memory that I will never forget.

The lesson I learned is that I need to focus more on people instead of tasks. I know my basement will get finished some day. When? It doesn't matter. What matters is that my little girl and I had a great time and we learned so much from each other. I know some day the questions and comments will be far fewer and she won't need her Daddy in the same way. I know someday she probably would rather do about a million other things than help her Daddy paint the basement. I dread that day. But for now, I have a little four-year old who likes to help and still likes to talk to her Dad.

I pray that I can apply the patience I found with my four-year old, when I deal with other people. I pray that they can apply the pateince that my four-year old showed me when they deal with me.

Take the time and paint with a four-year old. You'll be glad you did.

Please write back and let me know if you have had similar expereinces.

That One Word

I have been thinking recently about what the students of Trinity Lutheran School will remember long after they have graduated. What will their thoughts be? How will they view their experiences at our school? Will they remember a certain teacher or friend from their class? What will be their most exciting memory? What about their worst?

School years make an incredible impression on our lives. I can remember clearly events from my childhood and experiences I had in school. Some good…Some not so good. I can remember certain teachers and even the words they said to me that had a profound impact on my life. Words and experiences that may have seemed unimportant at the time were permanently etched into my mind. When I think back to my experiences, I am reminded very clearly that I and the other people here at Trinity are making lasting memories for our students. What will those be?

I am reminded that seemingly innocent or off-hand comments can stay in the mind of a student for a long time even after the one who made the comment has forgotten what was said. The old saying that "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me" is not very true at all. Words often hurt far worse that any physical pain. We also tend to forget what the context was when the comment was made. I remember words of praise and encouragement and I also remember when teachers and principals spoke to me when angry or tired of my shenanigans. (Yes, I spent some time in the principal’s office.)

It seems to me that many of us remember a special teacher that had an impact on our lives. Many times teachers who are remembered the most are the ones who were firm but yet forgiving. They had challenging lessons and demanded much, but yet they were patient and understanding. They did not view teaching as just another job, they viewed teaching as a calling to serve and make a difference. I can remember many foolish things I did in school, but I remember even more the consequences I received and how I learned from my mistakes. (I learned not to bring a water gun on the last day of my 8th grade year the hard way)

What an awesome responsibility it is to work with young people. I pray that I make the right decisions and the words I choose do more good than harm. I pray that our students will have fond memories of their time here at Trinity. I pray that our students will look back and know that we taught them because God has called us to teach math, science, and other subjects, and most importantly, about Him.

Sometimes, that one word can make a world of difference.

The Things I Think, I Think

Wow! My first blog ever. I was thinking about what I should write about and what message I should try to convey. Should I share reflections on what is happening at Trinity? Should I write about accomplishments of our school and the exciting things happening in our classrooms? Should I focus on our teachers and the incredible commitment to Christian education that they have devoted their lives to? Should I write about Christmas and reflect on goals for the second semester? Should I write about our upcoming efforts for enrollment? Should I write about my vision for Trinity school and what its going to take to get there? What about test scores and the school calender for next year? Should I write about how some people still do not follow the traffic pattern when entering and exiting our property? Should I write about global issues or current trends in education? Should I write about global warming or my thoughts on The Lions? Should I focus on political views? Should I ????????

As you can tell, I have a great deal on my mind. I am not sure where this whole blog thing is going to take me/us, but I do know that I would like to use it as a communication tool. Please write to me, respond to my blogs, or simply contact the school if you would like to talk with me further. I would also like to invite you to submit ideas that you would like me to write about.

Have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Jim Richards