What an amazing week we just finished. Last year I mentioned how awesome it was to be back and get all those high fives, knuckles, and hugs again. Well, this year was no different. After a summer filled with training, patrol work, and time off because of hand surgery, you have no idea how great it was for me to see everyone again. Old faces and new faces alike. Each of you makes a difference in ways you probably don’t even know, so thank you for that!
This year is going to be a great year. And as you know, we can’t do this without your involvement. When I train during the summer, every time we start an activity, the instructor always asks, “Who is responsible for safety?” and the answer always is, “All of us.” It doesn’t matter who is the instructor or the assistant to the instructor during our training. If anyone sees something that is not safe, that person is responsible for saying something right away. I think it is the same here at STEM. We are all (students, parents, staff, guests, etc.) responsible for the safety of our campus, and without your help, we wouldn’t be able to have a safe school for everyone to enjoy. That is why I encourage you to read the Newsletter every week. Not just my portion of it but everything that is shared here. A lot of very important information is put together every week for everyone to be informed and to be on the same page.
One of the things I want to highlight today is the drop-off and pick-up of our students. STEM’s communication team has been sharing really good information with all of you, giving you guidelines as to how to smoothly (and safely) do drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. Please watch the videos that Nicole Bostel shares with you. Also, please help us by not disturbing the office and residential buildings near STEM. It was brought up to my attention that some parents have been parking and driving through private property parking lots next to STEM. I am aware that some of these businesses have NO TRESPASSING signs around their property, so you are responsible for following that request. Remember that they have the right to press charges against those trespassing on their property and/or towing the vehicles that park in their parking lot. Please do the right thing and allow us to continue having an amicable relationship with our neighbors.
As I always mention at the end of Walking the Beat: thank you, parents, for helping us to keep our students safe! And thank you, parents, for allowing me to be part of your children’s story; I consider it an honor and a blessing! Don’t forget to be kind to each other. We do have a lot of new students, so if you are a student and you are reading this, take the first step and talk to someone you don’t know, sit and have lunch with a student that is eating by him/herself. If you have a chance, let me know how it goes. Sometimes our actions seem like nothing to us, but they mean the world to somebody else.
If you have any questions, please email me at gabe.uribe@stemk12.org, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you again for your time…GO, SPARTANS!
Be safe!
Deputy Gabe