School Safety Update from YPS

School Safety is something we spend a lot of time and resources on throughout each year. Events across the country the past few years have shown this is a topic that must be continually addressed and enhanced on a regular basis.

• In September, all YPS classroom and office staff earned ALICE certification after an on-line training program. ALICE stands for Alert-Lockdown-Inform-Counter-Evacuate.
• All YPS buildings have determined two “rallying points” in case they need to evacuate their facilities. By having two different rallying points in totally different directions, we can select which one is best for the uniqueness of a given situation.
• All YPS classrooms have received “Emergency Go Buckets.” These buckets include some basic emergency kit items that would help us in a lockdown or evacuation drill.
• Over the next few weeks, all YPS classroom and office staff will have participated in “Stop the Bleed” training with staff from York General. This would be useful if we were ever in a lockdown situation and had to wait on medical care to arrive on site.
• On Tuesday, October 30th, it is our intent to conduct basic lock-down and evacuation drills in each YPS building. We will NOT use practice intruders or fake guns or do anything that will be alarming, loud, intrusive, or upsetting to our students. We will simply practice some intercom announcements, conduct our lock-down drills, discuss movement throughout the buildings, review our protocol with emergency buckets, staying away from doors, etc. We will then perform an evacuation drill where we walk off campus to one of our rally points. We want to see the flow of our students out of our buildings, on sidewalks, etc. to better prepare for any adjustments we need to make. We want to practice keeping track of our students as we move from campus in an urgent but efficient and organized manner. We are working to collaborate with local law enforcement and first responders so they can participate in the drills to see our procedures and offer up any suggestions from their professional points of view.

We are sending out this information to simply let everyone know the steps we are taking to maximize the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns at 402-366-6491 or mike.lucas@yorkdukes.org. Thank you for your support.

Mike Lucas
Superintendent of Schools

BE KIND

I love seeing all of the "BE KIND" info on social media, on shirts, and seemingly all over the place in Nebraska. It's obviously a tremendous message. BE KIND. It should go without saying. I'm proud of the important work Dr. Mark Adler and his beautiful wife, Joni, share about BEING KIND as they tell Reid's story. Dr. Jim Sutfin in Millard is doing a great job as an unwavering supporter of the BE KIND initiative as well. It's all awesome!

I haven't been super vocal about it but that doesn't mean it's not important to me. BEING KIND is one of my main goals every single day. I love to talk to people that others don't often acknowledge. I'm that guy that chats up the stressed out sandwich maker at Subway and tries with all of my power to make them smile and relax a little bit even though the line behind is growing. I literally try to go out of my way to help others every day. Not because I want attention or praise but because it's the right thing to do. For everyone. Every day.

I love to see students lead the way with BEING KIND. My favorite students are the ones that make sure no students sit alone in the lunchroom or on the bus. The best students are the ones that can find a way to include everyone.

We all need a little more KINDNESS in our lives. The world can be an unkind place at times.

Each and every day we are faced with thousands of decisions and situations. BEING KIND should be the easiest decision we make.

Don't be afraid to extend a helping hand to others. We've all felt isolated and alone before. It's a horrible feeling. Be the reason today that someone feels included and accepted.

Don't get me wrong....I love the attention that the "BE KIND MOVEMENT" is receiving....I just wish it wasn't needed and was a no-brainer like it should be.

BE KIND today. BE KIND tomorrow. BE KIND next week. BE KIND when nobody else is paying attention. BE KIND always.