Important Message about Ranney Safety Precautions

Seek guidance from teachers, and visit the website homepage where we will post resources and helpful web links for parents about helping children cope with tragedy.

Dear Parents,

The school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut has left us all mournful over the horrific events and tragic loss of lives. Such news strikes fear in the hearts of every parent and educator, and we all share in the enormous pain and sorrow for the innocent victims, their families and loved ones. We all join together in expressing our deepest sympathy for the families of the children and teaching staff in Connecticut who suffer great pain at this time. The tragedy shakes us all; and at such times, the safety we find in the daily routines of our children feels shattered, compromising their purity and innocence.

After such terrible news, we turn to each other for comfort and support. At Ranney, school is the home away from home for most children, and they will need every possible reassurance to know they are safe and secure and that every effort is being made to take care of them. Ranney School is, for many, the center of gravity of family life, and we will initiate some immediate and long-term action steps to help our community through this difficult time while also working to make sure our school is a safe haven for our community.

Since Friday, I have been in contact with our Board of Trustees, Tinton Falls Police Department (TFPD), New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), and our school administration to review new school safety procedures that will be instituted this week. Like many schools, we have regular evacuation drills and lock-down procedures that keep our teachers and students familiar and prepared for situations that may call for such response. After Friday's tragedy, we will continue to work with faculty and security experts to review our procedures and address any vulnerabilities to assure that we have best practices in place to keep our school safe.

Responding to campus security is a first step to protecting our community, but supporting our community emotionally is just as important. We want all of our students, families and faculty to return to school feeling safe and confident that Ranney's priority, above all, is the safety and care for their well-being. How we speak to children during this time of sadness will be important in making sure they feel safe in their school.

In the Lower School, we will not plan on speaking to the students about the recent events. Many parents have asked that we protect their children from the details of such tragedy. We also know many young children are sheltered from current events on T.V. and we will respect their innocence.
 
We are, however, aware that as students get older (grades 3 and up, Middle School and Upper School), they learn to understand the concerns of others and may even watch the news with their parents. In doing so, children will be exposed to details, may have questions and will want to talk with teachers and friends about the events that took innocent lives. Our teachers across the divisions will be guided on how to talk to their students in age-appropriate ways.

Effective Monday, December 17:

 - Ranney School will have a TFPD police officer on campus during morning arrival time and then at the end of the day during dismissal. The police car will be obvious as you enter the campus.

- TFPD will periodically patrol the campus throughout the day. The police presence will also be quite noticeable, but we will reassure students that police are here to help us if we need them and their presence in campus life is not due to any issue or emergency.

 - The security team will add another full-time security guard on campus who is a retired police officer. This guard will be a steady and consistent presence, and devoted solely to observing all campus activity—walking our hallways, and watching all areas of the campus constantly. This new guard will receive orientation from TFPD and will be equipped with emergency contact information and have quick and direct access to TFPD.

 - A full-time receptionist will be placed in the Lower School entrance to meet and greet parents from early morning to late afternoon.

 - Most of the doors will now be locked on campus, and the administration will be developing these new guidelines during the coming week. Needless to say, we have lots of planning to do in this regard to make sure the process works well and efficiently.

 - As always, all guests or suppliers will be stopped at the main Security Gate and asked to produce identification. Invited guests will also be stopped and handed a new visitor's badge and guided to their appointment area. As standard practice, all guests, vendors and visitors who enter the campus have their contact information recorded in computer records for any future reference.

 - Parents entering through the front Security Gate will also be stopped more frequently to check for current car tags and may even be asked to produce identification as may be necessary. Cell phone use while driving or exceeding posted speed limit signs while on campus is strictly prohibited.

 - Meetings with teachers and administration are scheduled this week to review all security and emergency procedures. Ranney School has a very well-developed practice of conducting safety and fire drills. Lockdown drills are also practiced regularly. These drills are recorded and shared with TFPD.

 -Ranney will have our school consulting psychologist and another psychologist on campus this week to be available for consultation and advice for students, staff and parents. Please contact us immediately if you wish to take advantage of such services.

 - On Tuesday morning, December 18 at approximately 8:45 a.m. in RSPA Panther Hall, I will be hosting a coffee for parents about these plans and to answer any questions. Attending will be members of the school administration, representatives from TFPD, as well as our school psychologists. Please join me if you can for this important discussion.

- Seek guidance from teachers, and visit our website and Twitter for resources and helpful web links to help children cope with tragedy.

More plans in the weeks and months ahead:

Last week, before this horrible incident, Ranney School completed a security audit. Plans are in place to institutionalize the use of employee identification badges, add electronic swipe cards to open locked doors, and install strategically placed cameras. Security will review these recommendations immediately and begin a rollout during the second semester.

I have requested that the Board of Trustees convene a new ad hoc Task Force for Campus Safety and Security to review these emerging plans to consult with leading security firms who work with schools and colleges.

On Friday, I invited the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools to assemble a meeting of state-wide school Heads to review safety practices and pool together ideas and recommendations. We expect to receive additional guidance from NJAIS very soon.

While the events of last Friday are so difficult to comprehend and understand, we will work together during this time to bring comfort and support to the hearts and minds of our children. They need us now more than ever. Hug your children many times over, and tell them how much they mean to you. The best remedy at such a time is human bonding and connection...for the children and for all of us.

Please know that our Division Heads will be speaking with faculty about the importance of talking to children and caring for them during times of stress. Teachers are a wonderful resource in helping students and they will reach out to you if they observe unusual levels of concern from our students. Faculty will also partake in the review of all security procedures with the administration and safety experts. Division Heads will be available to answer any of your questions and to offer support.

Finally, as always, I will keep you posted on our progress at school. Please do not hesitate to call or email me at any time, day or night, with ideas or for assistance. Join me in praying for the victims of Newtown, Connecticut, and their families.

Warm regards,

Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D.
Head of School
Ranney School

View Campus Security Page HERE

Parent Resources Please read below for recommendations for parents: - Limit too much T.V. and computer time where disturbing images of the incident are broadcast continuously.  - Be sensitive to children's moods and be very reassuring. Each child has a different level of understanding about such tragic news, and there is no one way to talk to children. In general, be more available, look for behavior that may shows signs of stress, answer questions as they are presented, and do not be afraid to share some of your own sadness where appropriate.  - Children demonstrate anxiety in many different ways. Please watch for change in sleeping and eating patterns as well as changes in willingness to talk. In general, an extreme change in mood is something to watch for.  - When children want to talk about the incident, we recommend to parents that they ask their children questions to discern baseline knowledge and to avoid sharing too much. For example: "What do you want to talk about?", "What did you hear?", "How does this make you feel?", "Is there anything more you want to know?", "How do your friends feel?" Asking children these questions allows them to open up and share details with you and will help you understand how much he/she has been exposed to.  - When speaking to your children, make sure you are calm and prepared to address their concerns. If they sense your panic or sadness, they will develop concern and become afraid.  - Keep family routines and holiday traditions consistent. The best way to support children through trauma is to spend time together and embrace them with your values.  - Seek guidance from teachers, and visit the Ranney Security and Operations page where we will post resources and helpful web links for parents about helping children cope with tragedy.