From Ms. Amanda

1. The “IB” message is that bad things happen to good people, but we pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and work together to make a better world. We will find opportunities that arise from this tragedy, and we will rise to the challenge. How can we use the IB Learner Profile to help us through this tragedy?
2. I will visit every classroom tomorrow, so have students write down their thoughts, hold questions for me, and I will spend a few minutes in every room. We will not have an assembly or anything tomorrow, so I will need teachers to gather their class as quickly as possible and move straight to classes to begin instruction in a ‘normal’ atmosphere.
3. Breakfasts and lunches will be bagged for the rest of this week. The eating area was moved to smack-dab in the middle of Carol’s PE classroom, so she will have to move (sorry Carol, thank goodness we have that field!).
4. Line-up areas will be adjusted – more on that tomorrow.
5. Rainy days? They simply cannot happen until we have a plan B. Any suggestions?
6. ICES and Prime Time are being relocated to the library and classrooms – please be generous with us as we figure out how the mornings are going to look. Any suggestions?
7. Access to the 500 building is absolutely, categorically PROHIBITED, so don’t even ask.
8. Please reassure students and families, let them know they are safe, in good hands, and that a thorough investigation is being done. I will provide updates as best I can.
9. PLEASE do NOT engage in conjecture, gossip, aggrandizement (is that the right word)?!
10. Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns or information – please DO report any smells, soot, etc to me immediately –
11. Once again, please be professional about this – our job is to reassure and then teach the children, helping them ease their concerns, keep our adult concerns and questions to ourselves within earshot of the children!

Amanda

Amanda Hammond-Williams
Principal
Alice Birney Elementary School, IB World School
4345 Campus Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92103
O: (619) 497-3500
F: (619) 688-3017