SCHOOLHenrico County Public Schools

henrico.k12.va.us

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SNOWCLOSINGS

Spotlight on

STUDENTSAFETY

!Pages 3-4

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

2 JANUARY 2015 SCHOOL DAYS

“A safe and secure new year”

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful and safe Winter Break. I know how

refreshing it can be to take some much needed time off at the end of a busy year. For me, it helps gener-ate excitement about what’s yet to come.

As a school division, we’ve ad-opted a new theme. You may have seen it: “The right to achieve. The support to succeed.” It means that we, as a school division, believe that every student – no matter his or his personal background or challenges – has the right to achieve at the highest possible level. The theme is supported by four key ar-eas of focus: Student Safety, Aca-demic Progress, Closing Gaps, and Relationships. By now you’ve seen that the theme of this issue of School Days is student safety.

Students have to feel safe and secure about where they are in or-der for the teaching and learning process to be as productive as pos-sible. You’ll be able to read about some of our safety enhancements

in the following pages. Also, how students treat each other, and how teachers treat students is critical to everyone’s success. To that end, we have some encouraging news.

This past fall, the School Board and school division staff embarked on a month-long series of town hall meetings to develop feedback on our Code of Community Conduct proposal. This proposal seeks to implement new strategies for pro-moting a safe and secure environ-ment that clearly articulates that expectation not only of students, but also of staff and the community at large. The proposal also attempts to provide a greater flexibility for administrators when addressing discipline matters in our schools. One of the best pieces of feed-back came from students who asked that we find a way to make the proposal smaller and easier to understand so that more of them would be inclined to provide feed-back. It’s not too late to offer your thoughts. You can read the current proposal on Henrico.k12.va.us, just

click the link beneath “Hot Topics.”Of course, now that it’s January

we’re back to the season of snow days! Last year we closed school 11 times due to snow, and we had an additional four delays due to winter weather, so expectations are high that we’ll do that again, at least if you’re a student. If you’re a parent, you probably have a different opin-ion!

The decision to close or delay school is one that we don’t make lightly. Ultimately, it comes down to safety. If we don’t think elementary students can walk safely to school, or if we think it will be too danger-ous for teenage drivers to be on the road, then we’re probably going to cancel or delay. Usually that’s a de-cision we’ll make after conferring with our general government part-ners and our neighboring school divisions.

On that note, it’s great to be back. Here’s to a tremendous 2015, and I look forward to seeing you in our schools!

Dr. Patrick C. Kinlaw HCPS Superintendent of Schools

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April 27, 2015at University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center3:30 - 6 p.m.

Call 804-652-3869 to learn more

ABCDAWARDS

December’s recipients were Robert Egg-leston of Holladay Elementary School and William Call of HCPS Transportation.

“Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.” It might mean improving job efficiency, services or safety; conserving resources; per-forming a humanitarian or heroic act; or independently anticipating and solving problems. The Henrico Education Founda-tion (HEF) and Henrico Federal Credit Union join us in recognizing these individuals by providing a check to each recipient.

October’s honorees were Christine Kunz of Holman Middle School and Jermaine James of Hungary Creek Middle School.

ABCD, Helping Hand award winners

In November, the winners were JD Ed-monds of Deep Run High School and Tanecia Charity of John Rolfe Middle School.

December’s Helping Hand Award for outstanding volunteer support went to Patricia Bolton. She and grandson Chris-topher took on the task of repainting the traffic lines at Highland Springs Elemen-tary School.

Congratulations to all honorees!

Helping Hand Award

PLACE YOUR AD IN SCHOOL DAYSFor more information contact Chris OBrion

at csobrion@henrico.k12.va.us or call 804-652-3725

SCHOOL DAYS JANUARY 2015 3

Henrico County Police Sgt. Jerry Gonzalez pointed at a room number, printed on a bright yel-

low label near the floor of a Short Pump Elementary School hallway. He was in-terested, maybe even a little excited.

“There. That’s a great idea. If there’s smoke in the school, students would need to crawl, and they would know where they are.”

To Gonzalez and others who watch over the safety of HCPS students, schools are accidents waiting to happen. And that’s a good thing for everyone.

When school incidents make head-lines, parents naturally wonder: Is my school doing all it can to keep students safe? How?

The answers encompass nearly every aspect of education in Henrico County, from construction to the class-room.

“Student safety permeates every part of the school and the school divi-sion,” said Chris Bailor, the divi-sion’s safety and emergency man-agement coordinator.

Some safety measures, such as reduced vehicle speed zones, are highly visible. But most of the safety process isn’t so easy to see.

“Most stuff that we do never makes the news, because it works,” said Bailor.

When safety concerns arise from inspections, reports or from individuals, she makes recommen-dations and the school division’s construction and maintenance department investigates possible solutions.

Bailor said safety improve-ments cost money, but just as often can be addressed by creative problem solving, without great expense.

“It can be as normal as a water foun-tain leak or as potentially dangerous as a spike protruding from a landscaping

timber,” she said“I’ll give you an exam-

ple: we noticed on reports that students were tripping on a partic-ular piece of playground equipment. HCPS Construction and Maintenance made multiple trips to investigate, and they realized that [the equipment] was the same color as the bark on the play-ground. So instead of ripping it out or replacing it, it just needed to be painted yellow.”

TECHNOLOGYTechnological enhancements are

just one piece of the safety equation, but they may be the ones with which par-ents are most familiar. The division has installed additional cameras, door locks that require each visitor to be buzzed in, and a visitor management system that

requires each person to scan his or her driver’s license into a computer when ar-riving and leaving.

“Everyone in the school should be accounted for. Everyone,” Bailor said.

“YOU NEVER KNOW.“”HCPS is also upgrading its in-

school medical expertise and resources. The division partnered with Henrico County-St. Mary’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing in 2013; the two cre-ated an educational program that would enable HCPS school clinic attendants to become full-fledged nurses. All HCPS schools are on track to be staffed by Li-censed Practical Nurses for the 2016-17 school year.

The division decided to go be-yond state requirements for CPR train-ing. While Virginia requires that three people working in a school be trained in CPR, HCPS decided to train a CPR instructor for each school. Because of that, in some cases, dozens of people in a school know CPR.

Henrico Schools also placed easy-to-use automated external defibrillators – AEDs – in every school. When the de-vice’s pads are placed on a person’s chest, the machine checks for a heart rate, and if it doesn’t find one, declares “No heart-beat detected” in a human voice. It then warns bystanders to stand back, and au-tomatically administers a shock to try to restart the heart.

School nurses take the devices with them dur-

ing drills, said Wilder Middle School nurse Kimberly Fricke.

“We take the AED, plus asthma inhalers, anti-seizure medications and

epi-pens. Just in case. You never know.”

BINDERS AND BUCKETSAlong with medical supplies, some-

one in each school’s main office takes along binders with student contact in-formation. In an emergency, the bind-ers allow a school to keep track of stu-dents as they are picked up. Getting in the habit of bringing the binders dur-ing drills makes it more likely that they won’t be forgotten in a real emergency.

“If you’re preparing by doing a drill in a relaxed way,” said Bailor, “you’re not really preparing.”

Schools in Henrico have added more unannounced drills, including lockdown drills every semester, monthly fire drills and two yearly tornado drills (the state only requires one). HCPS in-stituted earthquake drills in the wake of the Louisa quake, something the state recommends but doesn’t mandate.

Many schools have also adopted classroom emergency buckets, with sup-plies like crackers, water and flashlights, to tide a group over in case of a weather event or lockdown.

““WE DON’T DO THAT.“”School safety is always a process.

HCPS has processes in place for moni-

STUDENTSAFETY

Wilder Middle School nurse Kimberly Fricke.

4 JANUARY 2015 SCHOOL DAYS

toring ever-changing conditions at its 72 schools and specialty centers. Each school has a safety committee that makes monthly inspections of the buildings and grounds, reporting any violations or concerns. Comprehensive safety audits are conducted every three years at each facility, by teams that include experi-enced observers such as firefighters, police officers and retired principals.

At Short Pump Elementary School’s recent three-year au-dit, two groups – one inspecting facilities and the other safety procedures – walked the halls with clip-boards, cameras and flashlights. They peered behind furni-ture, squirmed into closets and cramped attics and questioned faculty and staff.

“This needs to be organized a little more – up off the floor,” said Mike Phil-lips, standing amidst supplies in a music room closet. Phillips supervises mainte-nance work at all schools in the division.

“I can probably throw some of it out,” said music teacher Jill Garcia of the props for concerts and shows. “We have giant hot chocolates, sleds, backdrops. We rotate [holiday] shows over several years, so we like to have them to use again. I’ll have to find something to do with them.”

In the main office, the team started pulling desks away from walls. “You’ve got an extension cord plugged into an extension cord,” Phillips told a staff

member wearing a grimace. “We don’t do that.”

BRICKS AND MORTARWhenever possible, the school divi-

sion wants safety baked into the design of schools before construction starts.

“Whenever we’re building a new school or do-ing any proj-ect, we try to i n c o r p o r a t e input from all key stakehold-ers,” said Al Ciarochi, the division’s as-sistant super-intendent for operations.

“We look at state and national stan-dards for best practices, pri-marily from law enforce-ment. We al-ways work

with local law enforcement to make sure we’re in sync with them, as well.”

So why doesn’t the division create schools with 12-foot perimeter walls and barbed wire to protect students?

“Obviously we put student safety first, but there’s always a balance be-tween a safe, secure school and a prison. We can’t make our schools like prisons. They have to be functional. They have to be warm and inviting for young children, older children, parents and guests. It’s a balance between security and a welcom-ing environment with sustainable design – meaning natural light; an environment that’s conducive to learning.”

EYES AND EARSAnother key part of school safety is

the presence of trained, uniformed of-ficers on campus who keep schools safe and build rapport with students. The school division has three kinds:

School Resource Officers: SROs are Henrico County police officers whose assigned beats are schools. They are there to uphold the laws of the Com-monwealth of Virginia. An SRO is as-signed to each high school and middle school, and each stands ready to assist nearby elementary schools, as well. The officers work with the school’s admin-istration and keep in regular contact with representatives of all school de-partments. SROs deter crime, conduct investigations and enforce traffic laws, but they also help with safety audits and sometimes teach classes in driver’s ed or law enforcement.

“We do whatever the school system needs,” said Gonzalez, who supervises all the county’s SROs.

School Security Officers: SSOs are employees of Henrico County Public Schools who ensure the safety and se-

curity of schools. As the SROs enforce the law, these officers enforce the divi-sion’s conduct code. They are re-certified every two years by the state, and are trained in such areas as search and sei-zure, emergency readiness, first aid and bullying prevention. SSOs often have backgrounds in security, youth-related careers or counseling.

School Crossing Guards: Fourteen schools have crossing guards. These are schools that have large numbers of stu-dents who walk to school and must cross a busy road. Crossing guards work in the morning and afternoon.

Bailor said that the officers build rapport with students, an invaluable function.

“We are constantly vigilant about school safety. But your best safety feature isn’t drills or locks: it’s building good re-lationships. Because most of the time if a child has something going on, other kids know about it. If you have those relation-ships, and students have those trusted adults, they can confide in trusted adults like principals or SROs or teachers.”

Staying in touchThe HCPS Crisis Preparedness Handbook is a must-read for parents and guardians who want to know what to do in a possible school emergency. You can read the short guide by going to henrico.k12.va.us and clicking on “Safety & Security.” You’ll see a link to the handbook on the right.

In the event of an emergency, affected staff, parents and guardians will be contacted via the School Messenger phone notification system. HCPS sourcesBecause these outlets are controlled by HCPS, they’ll have the most complete and accurate information available:

Twitter: @HenricoSchoolsFacebook: facebook.com/henricocountypublicschoolsSchool Messenger: the phone notification system will send messages to staff and parents and guardians.HCPS-TV: regular programming will be interrupted allowing for updates and announcements.HCPS website: www.henrico.k12.va.us will post updates and announcements.HCPS main number: 804-652-3600 will have a voice mail message with complete information.

More information about other media sources, school closings and emergency codes can be found at henrico.k12.va.us/SchoolClosings.

Mike Phillips, maintenance control supervisor, inspects an attic at Short Pump Elementary.

Sgt. Jerry Gonzalez and Sharon Alvarado of the HCPS transportation department are part of safety inspection teams.

SCHOOL DAYS JANUARY 2015 5

Pinchbeck ES

New Year’s Resolutions

High school seniors accept-ed into Henrico County Public Schools’ new Teacher Scholars’ program will have guaranteed teaching jobs waiting for them when they graduate from col-lege.

The program is a home-grown way to address the need for teachers in content areas where there aren’t enough qual-ified applicants. The school di-vision is experiencing teacher shortages in math, Spanish, exceptional education, technol-ogy education, and family and consumer sciences.

High school senior and want to teach?New HCPS program offers guaranteed job, extra $5,000

A committee will select the inaugural group from 2015 high school graduates who ap-ply to the program. Up to 15 Teacher Scholars will be cho-sen this year. Those selected agree to earn a teaching degree or complete an undergraduate degree in one of the content shortage areas, such as Spanish. When they graduate from col-lege, HCPS will guarantee them a teaching position, along with an extra $5,000. Teacher Schol-ars agree to teach in Henrico County schools for at least three years and to be placed where

they are most needed. Should they leave before three years, they are required to repay the $5,000.

The program is a no-risk opportunity for students with an interest in teaching: students can opt out of the program at any time without penalty if their college careers take them in a different direction.

“We are so excited to have a program which encourages our students to come back home to Henrico after college and con-tinue to grow with us as pro-fessionals,” said Mandy Baker,

the division’s human resources director. “We believe in our stu-dents and this program shows that we’re investing in their fu-tures.”

Detailed information about the program and an application can be found at henrico.k12.va.us/Teacher-Scholars.html. Applications for 2015 gradu-ates are due March 6.

“Eat no sugar for a year. My mom is offering me between $100 and $500 if I can do it, depending on how well I do.”Savannah Cronin, 5th grade, Pinchbeck Elementary School

“To see my dad, hopefully. He’s been in the army for four years. He’s in Iraq. I usually get to skype with him about once a month.”Ethan Wilhelm, 7th grade, Brookland MS

“To be a smarter, wiser person. I also want to start doing more things for myself this year, because last year I needed to do a lot for other people. I need to focus on myself now.”Shaquanda Whitfield, freshman, Academy at Virginia Randolph

“To keep my grades where they are and try to stay healthy. When I started middle school I lost that

recess time, and I also have more homework now, so I don’t get

that after-school time. So I need to make sure I get that exercise

to stay healthy.”Christian Esleck, 6th grade,

Pocahontas Middle School

“To get straight A’s, consistently.”Abram Waller, junior,

Varina High School

“To do my homework faster. I sit by a window at home and sometimes I watch the cars,

and a big tree in front of our house. It can take a long

time to do my homework.” Nate Wilkins, 5th grade,

Adams Elementary School

For more student resolutions, go tofacebook.com/HenricoCountyPublicSchools

6 JANUARY 2015 SCHOOL DAYS

Holiday Photos

Pocahontas Middle SchoolBaker Elementary School

Chamberlayne Elementary School

Girl Scout Troop 5436

Kaechele Elementary School

HCPS Student Congress

Pre-K at Montrose Elementary School

Tuckahoe Middle School at The Jefferson

SCHOOL DAYS JANUARY 2015 7

Bulletin BoardHoliday Photos

Got an interesting trip planned? Whether it’s Petersburg,

Va. or St. Petersburg,

Russia, the new HCPS

flag wants to come along!

Email

before your trip and we’ll

send the flag to your

school. Take cool flag

photos and we’ll tweet

them!

Fol low us on Twitter

@HenricoSchools

Find us on Facebook BadgeCMYK / .eps

facebook.com/HenricoCountyPublicSchools

Congrats to HCPS teachers who earned and renewed the profession’s highest mark of accomplishment in 2014: National Board certification!

“[My family] believed in the

public school because they believed in

a community.”~ Garrison Keillor

Photo credit: Claudia Danielson

2015 Important DatesJan 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day *Jan 20-23 EXAM WEEK HS early dismissal Jan 26 End of quarter *Feb 9-10 Report card distribution -secondary Feb 16 Presidents' Day *April 3 Student half-day **April 6-10 Spring Break! *April 27-29 Report card distribution -secondary May 25 Memorial Day *June 2-5 SENIOR EXAM WEEKJune 9-12 EXAM WEEK HS early dismissalJune 12 Student half-day **June 18 Report cards mailed -secondary

Looking Back:School Days Vol.1 No.4 1968

* Student holiday ** Student half-day

f lag@henrico.k12.va.us

f lag@henrico.k12.va.us

8 JANUARY 2015 SCHOOL DAYS

Henrico County School Board

Lisa A. Marshall Tuckahoe District

P.O. Box 231203820 Nine Mile RoadHenrico, VA 23223-0420804-652-3600 School Days is an award-winning publication

produced quarterly by the Department of Communications and Public Relations of HCPS. If you have questions about School Days, call 804-652-3725 or email csobrion@henrico.k12.va.us.Patrick C. Kinlaw Superintendent

Beverly L. CockeBrookland District

Michelle F. “Micky” OgburnThree Chopt District

John W. Montgomery Jr. Chair, Varina District

Lamont BagbyVice Chair, Fairfield District

henrico.k12.va.usTwitter: @HenricoSchoolsFacebook: facebook.com/henricocountypublicschools

Chris OBrion - Editor, WriterApril Sage - Graphic DesignerLarry Willis Jr. - Digital Content Manager

Sp tlight On: Wintry weatherQ&A on weather-related closingsThe editors of the Commentator, the Douglas Freeman High School newspaper, asked HCPS Director of Communications and Public Relations Andy Jenks to take some mystery out of weather-related closings.

No, there are not. It’s better to think of it in terms of instructional hours. Our instructional day is longer than what’s required by the state. Over the course of the year, that extra time every day accumulates and adds up to several days’ worth of hours. Think of it as a reserve of sorts. When we then lose days because of snow, it depletes that reserve. Keep in mind, it’s a very large reserve. Even though we lost several days last year, we still did not deplete our entire reserve. To be fair, we still lost lots of time that would have been spent on important lessons. Our teachers worked especially hard to keep students on pace.Q: If we were to have a snow situation

similar to last year, specifically the cancellation of midterms, what would be the plan of action for this year?

Certainly anything is possible, but no student should be expecting that to happen again.

Q: Could midterms be cancelled two years in a row?

We look at several things, but the overarching question is this: Will it be safe for 50,000 students to get to and from school? If we have doubts about the safety of our students and staff, then we start to consider our options. That could include a closing or a delay.

We’ll wait and see what the actual forecasts bring.

Q: What are your thoughts on the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” predicting more snow than last year?

Again, it’s helpful to think of it in terms of hours. The state requires a certain number of instructional hours per year. It would be highly unusual for us to come in beneath that requirement. However, we do have two “make up days” built into the calendar this year, which can be used if it is felt to be in the best interests of our students. They can be used at the discretion of the superintendent, in consultation with a wide array of school division leaders.

Q: How many days can be missed before action must be taken to account for the missed time?

Q: Are there a certain number of snow days built into a school year?

Wishful thinking! Last year’s cancellation of exams was extremely rare. The plan will always be to hold exams, and students should prepare accordingly!

Q: What factors are looked at when debating whether to cancel school due to snow/weather?