The school year has begun!  The beginning of the school year is always an exciting but busy time.  As teachers your focus is on your students and planning effective instruction.  As educators, we know that parents are an integral part of the entire education process. Let’s make it our goal to establish early on in the school year a strong partnership with the parents of the students we serve. Together we can ensure our students meet the goal of highest student achievement.

Parents who visit our schools or engage in regular volunteer activities will find a set of procedures in place to ensure the safety and security of our students.  Encouraging parent involvement in our schools on a regular basis is about making our parents feel welcomed in our schools yet understand the reasons for our visitor policies.  Our schools are open campuses for parents.  We encourage parents to contact teachers and visit classrooms to share, support, and celebrate the learning experiences of their children.  We also invite parents to participate in school events and extra-curricular activities.  This relationship between parents and the schools is a healthy, supportive partnership that contributes immeasurably to the excellence of DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam schools.

It is only natural for parents to be concerned about the safety and welfare of their child. Particularly in this day and age, when in the media we hear about children and young adults being mislead by adults.  As we start our new school year, I think it is important to let our parents and community members know the steps we have taken to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students.

The safety and security of our students is a paramount concern for the leadership and school administrators at DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam.  We have very rigorous procedures in place to ensure that we complete a background check on any employee, volunteer, or visitor before they are permitted access to our campuses or contact with our students.  Thanks to the cooperation of the leadership, teachers and parents, we can be proud that our schools will remain safe places for our students and staff members.

To our parents and volunteers, I hope you understand that we value your participation in the education of our students - your children.  We welcome your involvement and your visits to the school, and look forward to a gratifying, mutually beneficial relationship with you.  In return, we ask that you abide by the local school policies and procedures when it comes to visiting your children at school or meeting with your child’s teacher.  Together we can ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam