Orange Alert Letter
March 20, 2003

Dear Families,

At Dingeman, the safety of our students and staff remain our top priority.  As we go into heightened security awareness, the district and Dingeman staff are taking many steps to ensure your child’s safety. These include:

• San Diego City Schools Police and other key district departments are trained and prepared to respond to security-related situations.
• School police are in constant communication, and is collaborating actively, with the San Diego Police Department, the key agency in the county for information on security-related issues, as well as with Federal, State and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
• Our site has an extensive emergency plan, which we have recently reviewed with key staff.
• We will continue to control access to our schools during the regular school day, after hours and on weekends.
• The district has established a hotline for employees, parents and the public who have questions or concerns. The number to call is 619-725-5578. The line will be staffed between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily.

In case there is an emergency at Dingeman, children will remain safe in classrooms. In the event of an evacuation, it is important to remember that you must meet your at the gate located at the far end of our school parking lot, or call the district’s hotline to find out if a new location has been established. All children must be signed out by someone authorized on the emergency card. Please remember to contact the school to update the emergency card.

San Diego City Schools is working with Dingeman to provide appropriate security precautions and support services to our school. Your child will respond to emotional issues by watching the way adults respond. Please talk to your child, listen, and respond factually and honestly to his/her concerns, according to age and maturity level. Remaining calm and honest will reassure your child’s sense of safety and security. [For more tips about how to talk to your child about war, click here.]

Please be assured that we actively work with city and school police, as well as other district departments, to ensure your child’s safety. Additional information can be found at the district’s web site at www.sandi.net/safeschools. If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at 858-549-4437.

Sincerely,

Brad Callahan, Principal