From the Principal's Desk
Dear Blossom Hill Families:
“Safety First” is our motto at Blossom Hill. Currently, we conduct regular routine safety drills over a ten-month period. The purpose of the drills are to train staff and students to respond quickly to a variety of emergencies. All drills are evaluated on execution time and adherence to protocol. Each drill is logged, followed by a debriefing, to ensure a cycle of continuous improvement. The Santa Clara Fire Department also participates in one of our drills during the course of the school year and their Coordinator of Emergency Services has repeatedly noted that we have the most efficient evacuation process that he has witnessed in his many years of service. Parent volunteers who are on campus during a drill are required to follow the emergency protocol and participate until the drill has ended. In addition, the staff also trains on the Incident Command Structure used by first responders to handle emergency situations.
Below is a list of the types of drills conducted at our school:
Drill, Drill Duration
Fire Drill , 6-8 Minutes
Earthquake Drill, 10-12 Minutes
Shelter In Place with Restricted Movement Drill, 10-12 Minutes
To support your child in understanding emergency preparedness, I suggest you discuss how drills prepare us to know what to do in an unexpected situation and that when we know what to do, we have more control. You can also extend the conversation by asking your child to name other ways they stay safe, such as wearing a seatbelt in the car, looking both ways before crossing the street, or washing and sanitizing hands regularly. That will help them realize that they know how to do many things that promote their safety and wellbeing.
Later in the year, one of the Fire Drills will be held during lunchtime, giving students the opportunity to report to the back fence of the field (where their class number is posted) without their teacher’s direct guidance. A good opportunity to foster independence for our 1-5 grade students. If you are interested in more information about emergency drills, or would like to participate in one, please contact me.
Many of you may have noticed the blue screen on the fence running along Blossom Hill Road. (Actually, if you travel that way, you can’t miss it.) Please note, this is a temporary installation. At this time, our maintenance department is in the process of planning for and making multiple fence and gate improvements, but have been hindered by supply chain challenges. In addition, there has been a holdup on receiving the padding for the solar panel columns. We are expecting it any day. We are also looking forward to implementing a visitor management system in the very near future to capture and store visitor data and screen against the sex offender registry and custom data bases such as those with custody orders. These improvements are directly aligned to our Strategic Plan Objective #6 C.) Re-evaluate and strengthen school site safety protocols and emergency procedures. I am grateful for this comprehensive effort to care for and keep our beloved students and staff safe.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
In safety & education together,
Lisa Reynolds
Principal, Blossom Hill School
Phone: 408.335.2100
lreynolds@lgusd.org
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