By MaryAnn Birchler, Director, School’s Out, YMCA Camp Ockanickon
On Wednesday night, February 14th, I was able to spend the evening with my husband and three children. Valentine’s Day in my home is filled with red roses, chalky candy hearts with ‘U R Kool’ written on them and innocent Valentine’s spilling out my kids’ backpacks. We made heart-shaped pizzas for dinner and had way too much chocolate for dessert – as it should be.
But, my mind was elsewhere. My heart was heavy. It felt desperate, helpless and afraid.
My husband, Brent, walked into the kitchen to give me updates on the horrific high school shooting that took place in Florida on Valentine’s Day. “Seventeen people confirmed,” he would discreetly say in front of our kids. A few minutes later: “He pulled the alarm and then blended in with the other students.” As I stood there in my messy kitchen, covered in flour, pizza sauce dripping off the counters and shredded cheese all over the floor… there were families in Florida wondering if their children were alive.
It wasn’t fair. I kept wondering, what can I do? What can I do as a full-time working mom of three incredible kids? I need to make a difference, although seemingly impossible.
Here’s my answer: I need to use my platform to give the tiniest sliver of relief and hope to families in my community.
I have two very important roles in my life. One – I am the mom to Katelyn (7), Anna (5) and Franky (9 months). Second – I am the School’s Out Director at YMCA Camp Ockanickon. I am directly responsible for all aspects of the before- and after-school programs in Medford, Shamong and Medford Lakes School districts.
What does that mean? I have 45 part-time staff. I have 339 students in ‘my’ care Monday through Friday. I get to directly communicate, work and partner with parents, superintendents, principals and school administration staff.
I am fortunate to be one of the people that was able to witness Dr. DelRossi, Superintendent of Medford Schools, and his crew walk the perimeters of Taunton Forge School at 4:30 pm one afternoon. I watched as they looked for loopholes in their evacuation plan. I heard them test their P.A. system and what it would sound like if there was a lockdown in the school.
I am fortunate to be the first person that the secretary from Indian Mills Elementary contacts when they need to change the main entrance door code. They’re mindful that the code has been circulating for a bit and they don’t want it to get in to the wrong person’s hands.
I am fortunate to receive an email from Mrs. Ramage, principal at Nokomis School in Medford Lakes, because they’ve decided to keep all interior doors of their all-purpose room closed and locked at all times of the day. Yes, it’s a bit more difficult to take 35 kindergarteners, first and second graders to the bathroom during after-care, but we’re happy to oblige.
I am fortunate to have been able to attend an A.L.I.C.E (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training (www.alicetraining.com) at Memorial School in July of 2016. I was an attendee with local police officers, superintendents, school principals and fire personnel. The A.L.I.C.E. Institute is known to be the #1 Active Shooter Civilian Response Training for many organizations. The New York Times was also in attendance; you can read their article here.
So, going back to my first role as a mother – whenever I put my Katelyn on the bus to go to Allen School in Medford, I must remind myself that she is in the absolute best hands – as are your children. Our children’s educators have their safety as the number one priority. That I can assure you.
If I can convey the tiniest sliver of relief and hope to just one family and if I can let them know that our local school districts are constantly, and I mean constantly, working to make our schools safer, then I feel like I have made a difference.