May 5th, 2014

We have sent a detailed letter home with every student this week about the Safe Welcome Program coming to Silverheights in mid-May. The letter is copied below.  A further letter will go home when we know the exact date that school doors will be locked and the cameras and call buttons will be used to gain entry at the front door. 

Dear Parent/Guardian(s),

In December 2012 the Provincial Government announced its intention to enhance security measures in elementary schools across Ontario by initiating the Safe Welcome program which involves the locking of all doors in elementary schools. 

Implementation of this initiative will occur over the 2013-2014 school year at elementary schools in the Waterloo Region District School Board.  All visitors (parents, vendors, and central Board staff) to elementary schools will need to go to the main doors by the office and use the intercom system to ask to be let in.  The program will include before/after school programs, child care locations and portables.

It is a new thing for all doors to be locked in our school community.  We all want our school to be as safe as possible. Our students, parents and staff will work collaboratively as this initiative is implemented at our school.

A further communication will be sent home just before the school’s system goes live, we expect it will be  mid-May.  If you have any further questions regarding the Safe Welcome program, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Brenda Moen, Principal