NHS Principal Notes - September 21, 2022

Hello Clipper Families,

I’m using tonight’s message to inform you of school safety planning that will be happening at the high school as well as a safety application that will be available to grade 9 and 10 students to use if they elect.  Please see below for information about the A.L.I.C.E. protocol and the uSafeHS Application. 

Andy Wulf

A.L.I.C.E. PREPARATION

Over the next few weeks, we will engage the school in safety training using A.L.I.C.E. protocols. In the event of a violent intruder to our building, A.L.I.C.E. protocols provide everyone in the building options in addition to locking down in a classroom.  The acronym refers to Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.  On September 27th, teachers will review A.L.I.C.E. with students during the Clipper Block using this presentation.   Over the course of that week, teachers will review evacuation and lock-down procedures in each of their classes.  On Oct. 7, with support from the Newburyport Police, we will then run a drill and receive feedback from the police.  

uSafeHS Application and Assembly

This Thursday during Clipper Block, Gr. 9 and 10 will participate in an assembly run by students in the Bring Change to Mind Group which has a focus on mental health awareness and support.  They will share their experience with the uSafeHS Application which was developed by the University of New Hampshire’s Prevention Innovations Research Center.  

uSafeHS is a resource for students wherever they go. It helps teens recognize and safely respond to common negative behaviors, such as bullying and harassment.  It gives students an easy way to leave potentially risky situations, and makes it simpler for them to find help or report a concern.  Here is a link to provide you with more information and below provides a summary of the application’s features. 

Downloading the application is up to each family.  Since the application is still in a pilot stage, students who opt to use it will receive three short-in intervals during the pilot phase to aid in research around what student’s