Dear Parents, Faculty, Educators and Parishioners,
The entire faculty and parish and school administra<on team have been busy preparing the school for your child(ren)’s return next week when we heard the news of the tragic shooting at a Catholic School in Minnesota. It was heavy on our hearts as we continued preparations today with our Maintenance, Buildings and Grounds team, and outside contractors to create the best possible learning environment for your child(ren)’s return over the holiday weekend. We prayed for all those impacted, and for all of you, our school families. At times like this we come together as a community of faith to support and care for each other.
Please be comforted by the knowledge that at Saint Miriam we take the safety of our parishioners, students, faculty and staff very seriously. We have been working tirelessly over the past few years to continuously update and improve our safety plan to respond to the increase in school threats. Along with the Whitemarsh Township Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, Montgomery County Emergency Services, and the Whitemarsh Township Fire Marshal, we review and revise these plans with each incoming school year. Through dedicating resources in each budget, we have been able to install additional interior and exterior security cameras, a video camera wall in main administration office that records and monitors all access and hallway points, video communication camera doorbells at primary entrances, emergency safety bars in every classroom, lock down systems for large spaces and safety film over interior lower glass windows. We have fire, threat evacuation and shelter in place safety plans, which also include the parish facilities and sanctuary. We have panic alarms throughout our 19,000+ sq foot facility, and each classroom is equipped with an intercom, and this fall, each lead teachers will have long-range portable two-way radios to increase communication. Our facility is also equipped with a dedicated EMS secure telephone line that is outside our VOIP standard office communications to ensure immediate access to 911. Our campus enjoys a robust Wi-Fi system with expanders to allow 911 to communicate directly with staff via text to increase survival and direct emergency responders to locations as needed. We also have a direct call fire system with strobes and sirens, and we have recently added three additional fire extinguishers to our complement. Finally, our building schematics are uploaded to Montgomery County, and all windows and doors are labeled for easy identification. While we cannot disclose these plans in detail to the community for safety reasons, please be assured that they are in place, updated constantly and reviewed and rehearsed with the faculty and staff and prac<ced regularly by the children through monthly drills and routine lock down practices.
Starting next week, in the wake of today’s tragedy, we will pray with the students, reassure them of the safety plans we have in place, and once again review and practice our safety procedures both in school and in church. We have also directed our safety team to meet again and to install two additional cameras in two areas noted to be ‘blind spots’ as well as one additional panic alarm.
At the new conference following the tragic shooting, an old West African proverb was recited. We include it here again for reference and as a promise. At Saint Miriam, we know the power of prayer, but we also follow this idiom, “When you pray, move your feet”.
Thank you for trusting us with your children, we take it very seriously since it is a sacred trust. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep your children safe at school. Please join us in prayer for the families of the Annunciation School community.
In Partnership and Faith,
