Safety Committee and Volunteer Opportunities

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,

We understand that recent concerns about potential “federal interactions,” as defined by CPS, have increased anxiety in our community. We want to reassure you that our staff is following all CPS guidance and that we have strong safety measures in place to protect our students.

Preventative Measures

• Staff and trained parent volunteers monitor school grounds before and after school and during recess.
• Students and staff regularly practice lockdown drills so everyone knows how to respond in an emergency.
• Our School Safety and Security Team meets routinely to review procedures related to federal interactions and other emergencies.
• Families receive regular reminders about school safety procedures.

Responsive Measures

• If ICE activity is reported near the school:
  We will immediately notify staff and families. The school will move into a soft lockdown—classes continue indoors, and all PE and recess activities move inside.
• If there is an unauthorized person on school grounds:
  Students will be brought inside and placed in a hard lockdown. Students remain in their classrooms, and all movement stops. Administration will contact the CPS Office of Student Safety for next steps.
• If federal agents request access to the building:
  They may not enter without a judicial warrant. An administrator will meet them outside, and CPS Safety and Security will be notified. Any lockdown will remain in place until CPS determines it is safe to lift.
• Families will receive CPS-approved communication as soon as possible after any incident.
• The School Safety and Security Team will complete an after-action review to ensure procedures were followed and identify improvements.

Parent Volunteers

To maintain clear communication and consistency, volunteers must complete the CPS Level 2 process and attend a short training session. Please fill out the Volunteer Form created by Friends of Thorp to let us know if you are interested in volunteering.

Sincerely,                                                         
The Thorp Safety and Security Committee