District 200: Newtown, CT Shooting a Reminder to 'Always be Mindful' of Student, Staff Safety

As students and teachers returned to school Monday after , District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris sent a message to parents and community members on safety in the district.

"As the details of the tragedy have unfolded, we reflect on the safety of our children. This tragedy is a reminder that we must always be mindful of student and staff safety and continually assess our procedures," he wrote.

He wrote that safety protocols are in place at every school, and are reviewed monthly by a safety committee comprised of local law enforcement, fire officials, administrators and staff.

Harris also wrote that school psychologists and counselors are also on hand for students and staff who may be struggling with the tragedy.

The following message is on the District 200 website:

Parents and community members,

There is no doubt the tragic event at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Friday has impacted all of us in some way. As the details of the tragedy have unfolded, we reflect on the safety of our children. This tragedy is a reminder that we must always be mindful of student and staff safety and continually assess our procedures.

Please note that District 200 has safety protocols in place at every school. Plans are reviewed regularly by our District Safety Committee that meets monthly which includes law enforcement, fire officials, administrators and staff.

Safety is our top priority, and we regularly conduct various drills, including lockdown drills. We train and plan carefully with emergency responders, always debriefing after a drill to discuss where improvements can be made. In the event of any emergency, we post information on our website, and use our automated communication system to share critical information with the school community.

School counselors, psychologists, and social workers are available in all schools for students and staff who may be struggling with this tragedy. We strongly urge those in need of assistance to speak with support service staff at their school.

While the education of your children is our purpose in District 200, nothing is more important than providing a safe and secure environment for all students.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Dr. Brian Harris

Superintendent of Schools 

The district on Friday shared a PDF of talking points from the National Association of School Psychologists that addresses talking to children about violence and tragedy. 

For updates from Newtown, CT, go to Newtown.Patch.com.

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