Dear SUA Community,
Safety of our students, and all those in our community, is always our highest priority. To that end, I want to share information about some safety drills that we will be conducting this spring. Over the past several years, Lelia and I have gained approval to use the UC Victory Parkway Campus as a reunification site for SUA. In the event of an emergency or a situation that requires us to evacuate from the SUA campus, we have fully developed plans for safely and efficiently reuniting students with their parents/guardians at the UC Victory Parkway Campus.
One of the reasons we are especially grateful for this partnership with UC is that the Victory Parkway Campus, located at the end of Ashland, is within walking distance of SUA. There are limited courses and programs hosted on that campus, so there are ample and appropriate spaces available for us. In addition, the traffic flow and parking lots are well-suited to support the reunification plans.
This spring our goal is for all students, faculty, and staff to gain a general awareness of the reunification location. Students in grades 9-11 will have designated dates during non-academic programming time for a safety “drill,” consisting of a brief orientation to the reunification site and a walk from SUA to the UC Victory Parkway Campus accompanied by SUA faculty and staff. Here are the dates for each class:
Class of 2027: March 16
Class of 2028: March 25
Class of 2029: April 22
Next year, we look forward to involving all members of our community in more comprehensive reunification training. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.
Last week I shared outstanding news about the Bulldogs in post-season competitions. The state meet for indoor track and field had not happened yet, and I am pleased to share some additional great news. The 4x800 relay ran an impressive race and placed 9th in the state. Members of that relay team were Peyton Denton, Caroline Josshua, Brianna Renn, and Emily Schlessman (alternate: Kathleen Keehn). Pole vaulter Rachel Johannesmeyer cleared 13 feet and placed 3rd in the state. Excellent job, Bulldogs!
Finally, Friday, March 13, will be Alicia Tidwell Day at SUA in honor of Alicia Tidwell, who passed away unexpectedly last spring. Alicia served SUA as the Vice President of Community Advancement, Equity, and Inclusion. She was a loving and strong role model and advocate for all members of our community. Anyone who knew her could share a story, a quote, or a quick-witted piece of advice that inspired them. On Friday, students are invited to wear red, Alicia’s favorite color, and to participate in a prayer service during Community Time if they wish.
Alicia’s important work and spirit are being carried forward by Kayla Neel, our Senior Director of Community and Cultural Engagement. While only on the job since early December, Kayla’s impact on our community has already been very positive. She has a deep understanding and respect for our school’s mission and is developing programming and connections that strengthen our sisterhood.
Enjoy the rest of your week. Go Bulldogs!
Kathy