Students and staff have settled into their routines and fall sports are in full swing with many football and volleyball games, as well as cross country track meets already in the books! Fall is always an exciting time of year as we look forward to cooler weather and enjoy supporting our students in all their endeavors.
October 13-17 is School Lunch Week. The theme for the week is “Taste the World: Your School Lunch Passport.” October 17 will feature an international-inspired menu for students to enjoy. Our child nutrition staff works hard every day to serve healthy, delicious meals, and we can’t wait to share this fun food adventure with our students. As participants in the USDA’s Community Eligibility Program, we are also proud to make sure every child in Elmore County starts their day with the best breakfast possible.
School Bus Safety Week is October 20-24. Your child’s bus driver is the first school system employee to see your child in the morning and the last one to see them in the afternoon. Bus drivers have additional training beyond the standard commercial driver’s license to become qualified to transport up to 72 students daily. Encourage your child(ren) to do their part by following their bus driver’s instructions, staying seated while the bus is moving, and adhering to all safety rules as outlined in our Elmore County Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. Please express your appreciation to your child’s bus driver for safely transporting your child(ren) each day.
October 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week. The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people across the country each year. This year’s theme is “Life is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free™”. The theme symbolizes how every choice fits into the bigger picture. Just like a puzzle coming together, a drug-free lifestyle helps build a stronger, brighter future—one piece at a time. Each school plans engaging activities for students centered around drug awareness and prevention. Encourage your child(ren) to participate, but most importantly, talk with them about staying healthy and drug-free.
October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. In conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, our schools incorporate activities for students that focus on bullying prevention, reporting bullying, and appropriate interpersonal interactions.
Our top priority is for every student and employee to feel safe at school. Secured perimeters, limited entry points, School Resource Officers on every campus, mental health resources, social media monitoring, drills, policies to combat bullying, and a focus on positive student/teacher relationships help us achieve this goal. We continually monitor and evaluate our policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment where every student is empowered and every student succeeds!
Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
