Dear Lavina Community,

As fall settles in, Lavina School is in full swing, and I’d like to share an update on the safety measures we have in place to protect our students.

We regularly practice safety drills so that staff and students are prepared in the event of an emergency. If a real emergency occurs, families will be notified by phone, text, or email. Depending on the situation, you may receive communication through more than one method. Please note that school incident information will never be posted on Facebook. If you ever have questions, please call the school directly.

The Office of Public Instruction requires every Montana school to conduct at least seven safety drills each year. At Lavina, we use a variety of drills to ensure readiness:

• Earthquake Drill – Conducted each October (this year on October 16). Learn more at shakeout.org.
   

• ALICE Training – Lavina is an ALICE-certified school (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). This program equips schools to respond effectively in active shooter situations.
   

• Fire Drills – Practiced regularly to ensure quick, calm evacuations and to reinforce safe habits.
   

• Secure Your Rooms Procedure – Used when staff must address a private matter. Unlike a lockdown, this limits hallway movement while preserving student privacy and dignity.
   

As a reminder, FERPA—the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act—protects the privacy of student records. While I am happy to answer questions about our procedures, certain details involving individual students cannot be shared.

Get Involved

At Lavina School, we believe the saying “It takes a village to raise a child.” Community involvement is vital, and there are many ways for parents, grandparents, and neighbors to participate:

• FFA Alumni – President: Amanda Wessell
   

• Beef-to-School Program – Chair: KJ Fauth
   

• Lavina School Association – President: Amanda Wessell
   

• S.P.I.R.I.T. – Contact: Kim Kopetzky
   

• Adult Education – Contact: Kim Kopetzky
   

• Pirate Booster Club – Chair: Lindsey Faith
   

…and more!

All volunteers working directly with students must complete a background check, as required by school policy. We welcome new faces—your involvement, big or small, strengthens our programs and prevents burnout for the same few who often carry the load.

We’re Hiring!

Lavina School is currently seeking two full-time Special Education Aides.

If you are interested, please stop by the office or give us a call. At the moment, substitutes are filling in, but this is only a temporary solution—we need permanent staff as soon as possible. Join our team and make a positive impact every day!

As always, thank you for supporting Lavina School. This is your school, and together, we create a safe and supportive place for our students to learn and grow.

Until next time,
Mrs. Hanson

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