Health & Safety Protocols

Safety is a top priority of the Northbridge Public Schools. To ensure the safety of all, the District has incorporated a number of protocols that include food policies and evacuation procedures.

SAFE SCHOOL GUIDELINES

Safety of students and staff is of critical importance to the school. Staff should be familiar with the school’s Critical Incident Plan and security procedures, which are implemented as needed.

Visitor’s Passes

All visitors must report to the main office. If a parent wishes to go to an area of the school beyond the office, they must obtain a visitor’s pass and enter their name in the sign-in log. This is to ensure the safety of all. In addition, any adult wishing to volunteer or interact with a child must have an approved criminal history check (CORI) on file with the Northbridge Public Schools. If you are expecting a parent in your classroom, please let the main office know in advance.

Fire Drills

For the safety of everyone, the school practices fire drills frequently during the school year. At the beginning of the school year you will receive special directions. You will also find instructions posted in each classroom. When the fire alarm sounds, staff will guide students to exit the building quickly and orderly. Please remind students to walk quickly and remain quiet. Once outside, please take attendance to make sure that all students are accounted for. If a student is not present following an evacuation you must notify appropriate staff.

Enhanced Lockdown Procedures (ALICE)

In the unfortunate circumstance that an intruder or active shooter is threatening one of our school buildings, staff and students are trained yearly and practice the following Enhanced Lockdown Procedures

Food and Allergies

Northbridge Public Schools Protocol for Food in the Classroom (Grades PK through 8) (See Policy ADF)

The Northbridge Public Schools has developed a protocol for food celebrations in the classroom to address three issues:

● There has been an increase in life-threatening food allergies in our schools

● New legislation has been passed which supports Northbridge Public Schools’ efforts to help prevent obesity in children

Celebrations In The Classroom

We encourage non-food celebrations; however we realize that at times food is an important and appropriate part of a celebration. 1. There will no longer be an allowable foods list. Ingredients change on an almost daily basis, and there is no safe way to guarantee that a food that seemed safe this week will be safe next week.

2. No food will be brought in to share with the entire class.

3. When a teacher chooses to plan a celebration, parents will be asked to send in a special snack for their student to enjoy during the celebration. Teachers have the option to have students decorate a bag to bring home for the snack, or to provide one for the snack. They may also ask the parents to provide a bag.

4. Sharing of snacks among students is not allowed.

Curriculum Related Food Lessons

When a teacher decides to include food as part of the curriculum, he/she will send permission forms home 7 calendar days before the lesson.

At the beginning of the school year, a general food permission form will be included in the forms sent home on the first day of school for every student. On this form, parents/guardians will be able to indicate if their child may participate in any curriculum related food lesson during the school year, or if the student has a special circumstance and the parent/guardian must be informed of the food to be provided. During the school year, teachers will only need to send permission forms home with students who require permission for each food lesson or to students who do not have a permission form on file at school. The nurse will keep track of the food permission forms and will provide teachers with the list of students who require permission forms for each food related lesson. If a student cannot have a food, the teacher and parent/guardian will work out an acceptable alternative food.

During some teaching units students are asked to bring in homemade food that enhances a unit or lesson plan. If a teacher is including homemade food during a lesson such as this, a letter will be sent home to parents of students describing the event and the foods that will be available (e.g. homemade food representing cultures studied in our lesson) at least 7 calendar days before the event. If a student cannot sample the homemade foods, the teacher and parent will work out an alternative that will still allow the student to participate in some way. An example would be having that parent/student make a cultural food item that that student can eat. Teachers and parents are responsible to remind the student that he/she cannot sample the foods.

Rewards and Incentives

Food will not be used as a reward or incentive for any student unless indicated in an IEP or 504 plan. As always, children are not allowed to share snacks or food with each other, either in school, on the bus, or at school sponsored events such as Field Trips.

Allergies

Each building has a designated space in the cafeteria that is allergy-friendly and can be used by students with allergies. All students sitting at these tables must have allergy-friendly meals (no nuts, etc.).