November 27, 2018

Dear Heritage Middle School families,

The safety and well-being of your child(ren) is our highest priority. I am writing this letter to inform you about an incident that occurred in our building today.

A lockdown was put in place at Heritage Middle School around 10:45am this morning. Our security guards and the New Windsor Police Department responded to an incident. It was determined that there was no imminent danger and the lockdown was lifted. Students, faculty, and staff resumed a normal day.

Our scholars, faculty, and staff responded calmly and quickly as they are taught to do during the regular safety drills that are conducted in each building throughout the year. Safety drills are conducted to prepare our NECSD community for possible scenarios that may occur in school or in other public spaces that our students may visit. Some of these drills are announced, so students and teachers can practice and prepare. Some of these drills are not announced, so students and teachers can react as though the circumstance is real. Drills that are announced allow students and teachers to practice what to do in the event of a real emergency. Unannounced drills are equally, if not more, important. The manner in which students and teachers react to drills that are unannounced, informs our district about how we can better prepare each school for emergency situations.

The lockdown may be upsetting for your child(ren) that occurred. Your child may have questions or wish to express their emotions about the potential dangers in the world. According to the age and level of understanding, answer your child’s questions honestly. Try to be sensitive to their desire to communicate, while listening to and accepting their feelings.

Ask your children to review the response(s) they are taught during safety drills to help them better learn and remember how to respond to potential emergency situations.

Please help us remind your child to speak to an adult if they ever see or hear of any threat to their school. It is through the work of all that we are able to love, support, and protect our scholars.

Through the work of all,

Lynnette Brunger, principal

Heritage Middle School

Newburgh Enlarged City School District