Pond Cove Sign

November 28, 2022

Dear Pond Cove Families,

       I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday break with family and friends. I am writing to provide you with general information on our ongoing efforts preparing students and staff to safely respond to a variety of emergency situations at school. Although our hope is that we can avoid any real emergencies, we continue to focus on safety above all else.

       Pond Cove utilizes an Emergency Response Plan developed by the district’s Emergency Management Team in the event of a crisis at any of our schools. The plan is developed by school and district staff in consultation with local police and fire officials. To safeguard the safety and security of students and staff, the plan is a confidential document. However, my hope is to keep you as well-informed as possible.

       School administration works closely with the Cape Elizabeth Police Department to provide staff with ongoing emergency response training. An important component of the training is how we message the purpose of each drill to our young learners. We make every effort to communicate the importance of the drills through child-friendly, non threatening language. When discussing any drill, we use general statements and do not speak in detail about harmful or scary potential threats. 

       So far this fall, Pond Cove students and staff have practiced responding to emergencies in seven practice drills. We will have more drills throughout the winter and into the upcoming spring. These exercises prepare students and staff for a variety of emergencies including fire/evacuation, medical crises, and harmful threats on campus or in our building. 

       Thank you for entrusting us with your child's safety. As an educator and a parent, I understand that school emergencies can be a sensitive topic for everyone. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly with any questions you may have. I am happy to speak with anyone and share what I can.

Respectfully,

Jason Manjourides

jmanjourides@capeelizabethschools.org

799-7339