Principal's Safety Assurance Letter

Principal's Safety Assurance Letter

Twin Oaks Elementary School
Angelica Barragan-Su, Principal
2023-24 School Year

The 2023-24 Comprehensive School Safety Plan was written by school administration and approved by the Twin Oaks Elementary School Site Council. It is designed to be a working document and to ensure policies and procedures for the safety of our students and staff are in place. Local law enforcement and city officials are regularly consulted to assist the administration in designing safety, disaster and behavior plans. 

Three essential components were addressed when writing the plan and strategies to ensure that components in place are listed in the following order: 

  1. Assuring a Safe Physical Environment
  2. Characteristics of Students and Staff
  3. School Culture
 

Assuring a Safe Physical Environment

  • Disaster plan, procedures and drills are designed and rehearsed to ensure the safety of all students in the event of a disaster or armed intruder.
  • Emergency containers in each classroom contain supplies in case of an emergency.
  • An Emergency Response Crisis Management system has been instituted. Adults on campus have been assigned to teams in the event of an emergency.
  • California Education Code and SMUSD Board Policies regarding behavior, suspension and expulsion are communicated to students, parents, and staff via parent handbooks, behavior assemblies and staff meetings.
  • Mandated reporting policies on child abuse, dangerous students, and sexual harassment are presented verbally and in written form to all members of the staff prior to the school year.
  • School discipline plans are communicated to students during the opening week of school and provide students with an understanding of the school rules as well as rewards and consequences.
  • Visitor policies are communicated and visitors are required to sign in out of the office using our Complete Campus Security System to protect the safety of all students. Student checkout procedures are enforced for anyone picking up a child from school prior to dismissal. Visitation on campus is limited and anyone entering campus is required to wear a mask and self-screen for COVID symptoms.
  • An observation policy is provided to all parents who wish to observe in their child's classroom.
  • Twin Oaks is a closed campus. The campus is close to unauthorized adults before, during, and after school.
  • In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, safety protocols are in place for routine cleaning and disinfecting, maintaining stable cohorts within the classroom and while eating lunch.
  • Designated lunch table assignments and playground rotations have been created to reduce the mixing of stable cohorts.
  • Students have assigned gates for arrival and dismissal by grade level. School staff monitor gates and provide hand sanitizer and masks if needed.
  • Students are provided with individualized learning materials throughout the year in the classroom to minimize cross-contamination.

Characteristics of Students and Staff

  • Twin Oaks Elementary is home to 684 students in grades PK-5th and 113 staff members. We are proud to host a preschool Language Academics and Behavior (LAB) programs as well as three sections of a moderate/severe special days classes for grades TK-5. Our student population consists of approximately 23% English Language Learners and 44% socio-economically disadvantaged students.
  • Assistance is provided to those students determined by the Student Success Team to be at-risk and need social- emotional support by the school counselor or school psychologist.
  • Reading Intervention teachers support students who are in need of academic support.
  • Student awards foster positive character traits, manners and citizenship.
  • Students participate in Mind Up lessons focusing on mindful awareness, compassion and empathy.
  • K-5th grade students participate in Thrively, an online program, that creates a personalized learning experience based on students' strengths and interests.
  • Our counselor teaches weekly Second Step Lessons to each class in grades K-5 focusing on identifying feelings, empathy and problem solving.
  • Students are educated in the forms of bully behaviors and how to stand up to bullying. We encourage students to be The One who helps others.
  • Our counselor provides short-term counseling for students who are crisis. Our School Psychologist provides more intensive support, long-term support to develop social skills and coping strategies.
  • Students in 2nd-5th grade participate in TED Ed clubs and will present their TED Talk in Spring.
  • 5th Grade students participate in Identity Day where they share their individual talents and interest.

School Culture

  • A team of classified and certificated staff members participates in the Lit Crew Book Club with a focus on equity and access.
  • Social Justice Standards have been adopted and used as the focus for our character education program.
  • Grades TK-1 participate in SMUSD's only Dual Immersion program, focusing on the Three Pillars of Dual Language: Biliteracy/Bilingualism, High Levels of Academic Achievement and Sociocultural Competence.
  • Monthly Family Fridays are conducted where parents receive a free book to read to their children centered around a Social Justice standard. This practice is to be re-instated in January 2022.
  • The school's leadership team meets regularly to ensure students' safety, emotional, and academic needs.
  • Students are encouraged to participate in Acts of Service, many of which are student created.
  • Ability Awareness Week is scheduled during the year to provide information to all students about disabilities such as autism, speech or visual impairments, physical disabilities, etc. Our goal is to focus on the abilities people possess rather than their disabilities.
  • Special education students are mainstreamed in general education to the greatest extent possible. A reverse mainstream program is in place in our pre-K special education programs.
  • A Peer Mentoring program pairs general education students with our special education students.

The above policies are in place at Twin Oaks Elementary in order to create an environment where children feel safe, secure and have the ability to learn every day.

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