Safety, Security, & Student Well-Being

Building Entry and Morning Procedures

Our top priority is to provide a learning environment that is physically and socially safe. Students will enter the building in the morning via their grade-level pod doors. Breakfast is available in the cafeteria. Please enter through the cafeteria doors on the southeast side of the building to eat breakfast. Only those eating breakfast should enter here. All others should wait outside their pod doors. After school begins at 8:50 a.m. (9:50 a.m. Wednesdays), only the front door may be used.

Visitor Check-in and School Security

All visitors must check in at the office and obtain identification passes. Students should not open any emergency exit unless it is during an emergency drill or an actual emergency. Students should direct all visitors to come through the front doors to check in and not open side doors for strangers.

All equipment associated with the security of the school building and the safety of everyone inside, for example, fire sensors, alarms, lighted exit signs, cameras, motion sensors, security keypads, AED devices, etc. must never be tampered with by students for any reason–consequences for tampering with these devices are severe.

Search and Seizure

Students possess the right to privacy of a person as well as freedom from unreasonable search and seizure as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution. This individual right, however, is balanced by the school’s responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all its students and staff. School employees (usually administration and safety and security staff) may conduct searches when they have reason to suspect that the health, safety, or welfare of students or staff might be in danger.

Note: Lockers and student belongings may be searched at any time where a reasonable suspicion of a safety or school policy violation exists.

Bus Safety and Expectations

Riding the bus is a privilege based on need and good behavior. Inappropriate behavior could result in the denial of this privilege. Students may not ride on a bus other than the one assigned unless a bus pass is issued by the front office. Rules for safety and conduct set by the driver are to be obeyed by all students.

Student Valuables

Students are responsible for the safety of their own personal property. The school cannot guarantee the personal property of students. Therefore, students are cautioned not to bring large sums of money or other valuable items to school. Students who bring valuable items to school (including phones and other electronic devices) do so at their own risk. It is suggested that personal items, such as school supplies be labeled with the student’s name. Student belongings will need to be stored in their lockers.

Lockers and Backpacks

All backpacks and or bags must be kept in a school locker during the school day. Students are NOT permitted to carry bags of any sort (including purses) with them during the school day. Students may carry lunch boxes or lunch bags with them during the lunch period.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco

Students may not use, possess, sell, distribute, acquire, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages, drugs (or “look-alike” substances), or other controlled substances other than those prescribed by a licensed physician while attending school or a school-sponsored event. According to TSD policy, a violation will result in disciplinary and/or referral to local law enforcement.

Possession and smoking, chewing, vaping, or any other use of tobacco/nicotine products by students while in or on school properties or under the school’s jurisdiction during school hours or while participating in school-sponsored events is prohibited. “Tobacco” shall include, but is not limited to: cigarettes, vaping devices, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, cloves, and all other kinds of tobacco prepared in such a manner as to be suitable for chewing, smoking, or both.

Campus Supervision

Campus is open from 8:35 a.m. (breakfast) or 9:35 a.m. Wednesdays until 4:20 pm Monday-Friday on scheduled school days. Students on campus outside of this time should be with an adult or attending a supervised club or activity meeting. We are unable to provide supervision outside of those times if students are not in an activity or sport. All students will be invited into the building when the temperatures are below 15 degrees.

Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, Etc.

Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc., should not be ridden on school grounds since the sidewalks and other perimeter areas are often crowded with children. Bicycle privileges are accompanied by responsibility, including awareness of the rider's safety and the safety of others. Since school personnel cannot oversee bicycle safety before and after school, it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their child follows basic safety rules and chooses a safe route. Please encourage your student NOT to wear headphones when biking and to cross at designated crossing areas. Bicycles should be parked in the designated bike parking area. Locks are strongly recommended to protect property. The school cannot be responsible for bicycles, scooters, or skateboards. Do not leave bikes on school grounds overnight.

Thompson schools use Standard Response Protocols to ensure we are all on the same page when communicating about safety. 

 

Emergency drills are conducted at regular intervals, are required by law, and are an important part of safety practice. It is essential that when signaled, everyone obeys instructions promptly and/or clears the building by the prescribed route as quickly as possible. Students are expected to follow directions from staff.

Guidance and Counseling

School and community educators work cooperatively with the staff, the Director of Student Activities, and Student Health Services to enhance the educational process for students, parents, and staff. They work directly with students in facilitating small group sessions and some limited individual sessions. They also serve as a resource for parents when the service is requested. The school/district community supports students in all aspects of their personal and educational lives, in successful and positive transitions to middle school, and in conjunction with staff members should extraordinary or difficult situations arise for students.

Counseling Team

• Amy Hazel-Coley
• Luisa Tagliavini
• Stacy Adams

Health Services

A Registered Nurse (RN) or health aide will be available in the health office for minor illnesses, health concerns, and emergency situations. Except in the case of an emergency, students must have a pass from a teacher before being allowed in the health office. Please see the district’s Health Services Page for detailed information on health and safety guidelines, immunizations, medications and (forms), asthma, and allergy awareness.

Parents/Guardians, when completing your family update in Infinite Campus, please be sure your child’s emergency contacts are updated and that you elect to receive messages from the health office any time your child visits.

MEDICATIONS

The health office cannot dispense medication of any kind without written physician and parent permission. In the case of prescription medications, the labeled prescription bottle indicates written physician permission. The medication must be in the prescription bottle and be accompanied by the district “Permission for Medication” form with the required physician and parent signatures.

The district allows students to carry over-the-counter medication (Advil, Tylenol, cough drops) as long as it is one day’s dose, in the original container, with a parent note. All prescriptions or frequent-use over-the-counter medications must be locked in the health office

Breakfast is served at LEMS 8:30 am-8:50 am (M, T, Th, F) and 9:30-9:50 am on Wednesdays. You may eat breakfast in the cafeteria before the school bell rings. School lunches are served daily during scheduled lunch times. Colorado voters passed the Healthy School Meals for All program which allows Nutrition Services to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge. This change becomes effective with the 2024-25 school year.

While meals are free this year for students, we still need you to fill out a Free & Reduced application even if you believe you won't qualify. The HSMA program is funded in partnership with federal nutrition programs that rely on that income information to support meals for ALL students. Other state and federal grants for schools are awarded based on free and reduced meal eligibility rates - this could mean more money for our school! Additionally, families who qualify may receive discounted or waived school fees, sports fees, utility support, etc.

To complete a Free & Reduced application, please click the link below:
https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

Students should report promptly to the lunch room at lunchtime. They are not allowed to linger in hallways or bathrooms. Students may use the restrooms in the music/TED hallway at lunchtime. Students are not allowed to go to the PE hallway or locker rooms at lunchtime. It is important to follow cleaning directions and get dismissed before heading outside. All trash must be deposited in the trash cans in the lunchroom, and tables need to be sprayed and wiped. Food and drinks are NOT allowed outside. Students are not allowed to leave campus during lunch unless accompanied by their parent/guardian. Eating in classrooms or pods will be permitted with teacher approval only (students must have a written pass). If you eat your lunch in a classroom with a teacher’s permission, you must remain there for the duration of the lunch period.

Please talk with your child about the importance of healthy eating during adolescence. We want our students to stay healthy, emotionally regulated, and well-fueled for learning.