January 8th, 2014

In December 2012 the Provincial Government announced its intention to enhance security measures in elementary schools across Ontario.  The Safe Welcome initiative involves the locking of all doors in elementary schools.

Implementation of this initiative will occur throughout the 2013-2014 school year at elementary schools in the Waterloo Region District School Board.  All visitors (parents; vendors; central Board staff) to elementary schools will access the main doors to the school using an intercom system.  The system will integrate the needs of before/after school programs, child care locations and those sites with portables.

It is recognized that having all school doors locked will be new for our school community.  Our students, parents and staff will need to collaboratively work together as this initiative is implemented at our school.

Chalmers Street is a pilot school for this program.  We will be fully implementing the locking of all doors beginning Monday, January 13, 2014.