Newsletter

From the Principal: Welcome and Safety

Dear Dallin Families,

We’re off to a great start to the school year! It’s been a joy to spend time in classrooms, hallways, and on the playground with our students. Our teachers are energized and excited about their new classes, and it’s clear already that meaningful learning and strong relationships are taking root across the building. (And don’t even get me started with the cuteness level of these new Kindergartners!)

In these first few weeks, I’ve also had several conversations with families and responded to some thoughtful questions about school safety. It’s an important topic - always, and I wanted to share some information about the systems and routines we have in place to help keep our school community safe.

At Dallin, we know that students learn best when they feel safe, connected, and supported. A calm, structured environment allows students to engage fully in their learning, build positive relationships, and grow as individuals. Ensuring this kind of environment is one of our highest priorities and something we work toward each and every day.

From the very start of the school year, students and staff practice key routines that contribute to both emotional and physical safety. These include classroom expectations, procedures for using shared spaces, and safety drills that help us prepare together in a calm, developmentally appropriate way.

We are also fortunate to have a dedicated School Resource Officer (SRO), Officer White, who knows our students, works closely with staff, and supports our efforts to build positive, trusting relationships across the school. In addition, new radio systems installed over the summer give each school - including Dallin - a direct line of communication with Arlington Public Schools (APS) leadership and the Arlington Police Department (APD), strengthening our ability to respond quickly and effectively when needed.

Our building remains locked throughout the school day, and all entrances are closely monitored. We appreciate your continued support in signing in at the front office and announcing your visit when you arrive. This helps us maintain a safe and welcoming space for everyone.

This year, I want to let you know about the steps our district is taking to demonstrate a shared commitment to creating safe learning environments across our town.

Arlington Public Schools is adopting the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation. The SRP is a nationally recognized safety protocol that standardizes responses to a variety of situations, including emergencies. This protocol is based on five simple, action-based directives:

Hold – “In your room or area. Clear the halls.”

Secure – “Get inside. Lock outside doors.”

Lockdown – “Locks, lights, out of sight.”

Evacuate – “To a specified location.”

Shelter – “Using a safety strategy for group and self protection from (state specific hazard, e.g., tornado or hazmat situation).”

Each response is supported by specific instructions to keep students and staff safe and informed. This consistent language promotes clarity and coordination among students, teachers, first responders, and families during any type of emergency.

All staff were trained in these actions at the start of the school year. We encourage all parents and guardians to learn more about the SRP by visiting https://iloveuguys.org and to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

The district will also hold an online forum for families to share more about this protocol and answer questions on October 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The registration link will be posted on the district website in mid-September.

I want to acknowledge that the timing of this message may feel unfortunate. It does not escape me. And, please know that each day I hope you see me welcoming our children with warmth and positivity and confidence that it’s going to be a good day. Because that’s genuinely where I am each day I walk into our school.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us to keep Dallin safe and welcoming.

Be well,

Thad