Safety, Security, & Student Well-Being

Providing a learning environment that is physically and socially safe is a top priority. Students enter the building in the morning via their grade-level pod doors at 8:43 (9:43 on Wednesdays). Please enter through the cafeteria doors on the southeast side of the building to eat breakfast. Breakfast is available in the cafeteria (8:25-8:47, and 9:25-9:47 on Wednesdays). After school begins at 8:50 a.m. (9:50 a.m. Wednesdays), only the front door may be used. 

All visitors must check in at the office and obtain identification passes. Students should not open any exterior doors unless it is during an emergency drill or an actual emergency. 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.

Students possess the right to privacy of a person as well as freedom from unreasonable search and seizure as guaranteed by the 4^th 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 (administration and TSD 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. Lockers and student belongings may be searched at any time where a reasonable suspicion of a safety or school policy violation exists.  

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. 

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 (school supplies, backpacks, outerwear, etc.) be labeled with the student’s name in a discreet location. Student belongings need to be stored in lockers.

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. All other items should be stored in the locker during lunch.

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 is open from 8:25 a.m. (breakfast) or 9:25 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 temperature is below 15 degrees. 

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. Because school personnel cannot monitor bicycle safety to and from school, it is the parent's responsibility to see that the student complies with basic safety rules and has chosen 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. A LEMS Safety and Security Team, along with a LEMS Crisis Team, support the planning of drills and improvements thereafter to ensure student and staff safety.

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. 

• 6th Grade -  Luisa Tagliavini 
• 7th Grade - Stacy Adams
• 8th Grade - Amy Hazel-Colley

A 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 related forms, asthma, and allergy awareness. 

When completing the family update in Infinite Campus, please update the child’s emergency contact information and elect to receive messages from the health office any time your child visits. 

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’s Permission for Medication form with the required physician and parent signatures. 

TSD 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 8:25 a.m.-8:47 a.m. (M, T, Th, F) and 9:25-9:47 a.m. on Wednesdays. Students may eat breakfast in the cafeteria before the school bell rings. School lunches are served daily during grade-level lunch times. Colorado voters passed the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program which allows Nutrition Services to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge. This change became effective with the 2024-25 school year.  

While meals are free this year for students, families should still complete a Free & Reduced application even if they may not 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, which could mean more money for our school AND discounted or waived school fees, sports fees, or utility support.

Students should visit lockers and report promptly to the lunch room at lunchtime without lingering in hallways or bathrooms. Students may use the restrooms in the music/TED hallway at lunchtime. Students are not allowed to go back to their locker or into the PE hallway or locker rooms at lunchtime.

It is important to follow cleaning directions and be 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), and student must stay in the classroom with the teacher for the entire lunch period.