Earlier this week, I sent a note of gratitude to the Upper School students for how graciously they carried themselves during last week’s lockdown drill. While these drills can be unpleasant, they represent an important component of our overall approach to safety and student health here at CA.

Other components we rely on are just as vital, but feel more familiar, and are built through the warmth of our daily interactions. We know our community is healthiest and safest when students feel empowered to ask for help, and when they know they can reach out to any adult if they are worried about the health and safety of a classmate. Our students excel at this kind of outreach, which means they know—and believe—that their advisors, teachers, deans, and counselors are here for them.

 

I also shared a few reminders and an update from the Safety and Security Team, including what to do during a lockdown drill and a reminder that students can always make an anonymous report using Safe 2 Tell.

 

Most notably, I let our kids know that in order to support students who'd like quicker access to our Safety and Security Team (for matters such as lost-and-found, parking lot questions, and general campus safety) members of the Safety and Security Team will begin working out of our Upper School flex office, starting this Friday. This office is shared with our Upper School representatives from the Challenge Foundation, who have been working there since the start of the year.