Dear Viking Families,

This first week has been incredible to welcome your children into our building. Their laughter, joy, and energy truly turn our building into a school. They bring out the absolute best in all of us who have the privilege to serve here at VCE. Thank you for trusting us with what matters most in your life- your children. We are honored to be able to teach them each day. As we settle into the rhythm of the new school year, I want to take a moment to highlight one of the most important aspects of our FCS Mission: Safety. Creating a safe and secure environment is foundational to learning, and it’s something we take very seriously at our school.

Next week, our students will begin learning about emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of a fire alarm, severe weather alert, or other emergency situations. These drills are not meant to alarm, but to empower. When students understand what to do and why, they feel more confident and prepared—and that’s exactly what we want.

We teach these procedures with care and clarity, ensuring that students know:

• How to respond calmly and quickly to alarms.

• Where to go and who to follow during evacuations or lockdowns.

• Why practicing these routines helps keep everyone safe.

You can support this learning at home by talking with your child about the importance of these drills. Ask them what they’ve learned, how they felt during the practice, and remind them that safety is a team effort. If your child expresses any concerns or fears, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher, counselor, or to me directly. We’re here to support every student emotionally as well as physically.

In addition to emergency drills, we continue to prioritize safety through:

• Secure building entry procedures.

• Staff training in crisis response and de-escalation.

• Strong partnerships with local safety officials.

• A culture of kindness, respect, and responsibility.

We believe that leadership includes looking out for one another, and safety is a key part of that. As a Leader in Me school, we teach students that being proactive and thinking win-win applies to how we care for our community, especially in moments that require calm and courage.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school safe, welcoming, and strong. Below is a presentation that has more information about our specific campus, our safety process, and the video we show all students when we are learning about the above drills. If you have questions about our safety protocols or suggestions for improvement, my door is always open.

With gratitude and care,

Elizabeth Ihle

Principal