Keeping St. Gabriel Students Safe

At St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School, the safety and security of our staff and students is a top priority. We have organized a dedicated safety committee which consists of our school administrator, teachers, and law enforcement personnel. They attend workshops, keep our safety handbook up-to-date, and help implement safety/security measures in our building.

Our entire staff is trained in the I Luv u Guys standard response protocol for K-12 schools. Safety drills are executed with the teachers and students regularly throughout the school year. We also work closely with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Richfield Fire Department to keep everyone safe and our building secure at all times. They visit frequently, conduct walk-throughs, provide training, talk to our students, and even supervise some of our drills. 

After recent meetings and safety/security training with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, we are reviewing the safety and security of our school. We have to acknowledge the fact that times have changed, and what was once acceptable for school security is no longer the case. We need to provide a secure and safe environment for our staff and students, as well as an attractive place to learn.

In addition, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee requires any adult who comes into the building, and has contact with students, to complete the Safeguarding God’s Children training. At this time, not all parents have completed this training. Because of the mandates by the Department of Justice and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, it was generally agreed that we continue to closely monitor and limit access to the building to maintain the safety of our students and the security of our building. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

At the 2024 St. Gabriel Catholic Parish and School auction, $50,000 was raised to further enhance security for the entire school and parish campus. 

A Secure Building:

• Our school building is equipped with 32 interior and exterior cameras. All doors are equipped with a camera. The exterior cameras that were recently added provide visibility around the entire building, including the church.
• All entry doors to the school (front door, parish hall door, and ramp door) are armed with a monitor and buzzer. Nobody can enter the building without being acknowledged and verified.
• Our building is equipped with a panic button, which immediately alerts the Washington County Sheriff’s Department when activated.
• All exterior doors at St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School are locked when students are in attendance.
• For any visitor to gain access to the building, the buzzer located at the main entrance of the school should be used.
• Office staff will allow access to visitors through this door. At this time, all unknown visitors will be greeted at the door and asked to provide a photo I.D. Office staff will determine if entry to the school will be granted.
• When approved, visitors will be required to wear a visitor badge provided by the office during their visit.

After entry to the school has been granted:

• Once you are inside the building, please proceed to the office to sign the guest log.
• No adult may walk past the office into classroom hallways.
• If you are dropping off materials your child needs during the school day, you need to drop them off at the office and the student will be called to the office to pick up the items. Parents may not walk items to their child’s classroom.
• Requests to visit classrooms will be approved by the principal, but it is not encouraged due to the interruption of the learning environment.
• Our classroom doors are kept locked and closed during the school day. They are also fitted with a Nightlock device for added security in case of a lockdown.
• We are also very grateful to have the assistance of Penny Schmitt, one of our school parents. Penny works with our safety committee and provides her expertise and advice in the area of school safety. She keeps us up to date with training and the latest information.
• We are very blessed to have all of these things in place. We will continue to stay vigilant and do everything we can to help keep our school a safe place to learn and grow.

Being Prepared:

St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School has safety and crisis plans in place in case of an emergency. In addition, students and staff participate in routine drills throughout the school year. We are also fortunate to have the great support of our local emergency responders.

Ensuring the Safety of Our Students is a Group Effort:

Through the course of the school year we want each of our students and families to be aware of our school surroundings. If you ever see suspicious activity around our school, please report it immediately.