Safety and security continue to be a priority as we move throughout the school year.   While we begin work with Bo Mitchell, president of 911 consulting, on the policies and protocols for an all-hazards plan and fire prevention plan for each division, we at the school are working on facilities and enhancing procedures that we have in place.

Doors:  This past spring and in the summer, we had the exterior doors on our buildings assessed by Johnson Controls, our door access system providers; by Bo Mitchell; and also by Artefact, architectural consultants who have experience with buildings in Historic Bethlehem.  Our consultants recommended we make adjustments to a few doors including the addition of power crash bars that have been added to the entrance doors to the Main Building and to the south doors in the Devey Building.

Drills:   Fire drills have been conducted in schools for many years and are conducted regularly at the Academy. Students and teachers know exactly where to go and what to do when the fire alarm sounds which is indicative of consistent training.   The fire department arrived downtown last week unexpectedly and conducted fire drills for the lower and middle schools. The Bethlehem Township Fire Department will be conducting a similar drill on the Merle-Smith Campus within the next two weeks.  It is also important that we conduct routine drills for a variety of emergencies. Since September, we have completed a severe weather emergency/shelter-in-place drill and lockdown drills, in addition to the fire drills. There will be additional drills as we progress through the year.  Should there be a need to evacuate a building, “go bags” are prepared and have been refreshed.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator):   Moravian Academy has 14 AED’s  — 7 on each campus. Our school nurses provided training for Lower and Middle School faculty and staff on how to use them as well as how to administer an EpiPen.   A similar training is scheduled for an upcoming faculty meeting at the Upper School.

Student Support Teams:  At a recent Parents’ Association meeting, the Director of the Lower and Middle School Student Support Teams and the Academy’s School

Psychologist shared information regarding how to promote resiliency in children using the language and methods of Developmental Designs.