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The Health & Safety of our Staff & Students is a Top Priority

Stop sign that says %22Stop. All Visitors Must Sign In At Front Office%22

Staff & Student Safety is Key

We take proactive steps to ensure the safety of every student, teacher, and staff member relying on both state-of-the-art and common-sense solutions to protect our schools. 

Before school and at dismissal, students exit the building based on their method of transportation or after school care status.  Multiple staff members are on duty at each location to monitor students and ensure that they arrive at their destination safely.

Once the morning bell rings, visitors may only enter through our front entrance, which is secured with video cameras and a security vestibule.

Visitors must ring a bell and show their driver's license to the entry camera and state the reason for the visit before being granted access by a member of the front office. There are no exceptions.  Once admitted through the first door, visitors must check-in at the front office and scan their driver's license through our Ident-a-Kid service, which also takes the visitor's photo. 

The Ident-a-Kid program runs a background check and notifies administrators and the school resource officer if there is a red flag. Providing there are no issues, the visitor receives a printed badge that must be worn at all times, and then then they may proceed through the second set of doors into the school. Visitors are also required to sign out.

Visitors aren't the only ones required to wear ID badges: we require all staff members to wear their school-issued ID badges at all times. Requiring staff to wear badges helps our staff and students identify who belongs in their school. 

In addition to an extensive video camera surveillance of our buildings, all of our exterior doors feature an electronic key system that records door opening activity by all staff members. 

As yet another layer of security, we are proud to partner with the Catawba County Sheriff's Department to have a School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the elementary schools in our feeder to ensure our staff and student's safety. Our SRO will be on campus at least one day per week and is in close communication with our administration daily. 

Learn more on our district website

Young girl sneezes into tissue

Keeping Our Staff & Students Healthy is Vital

Keeping our staff and students healthy is more important than ever. You can rest assured that even prior to the pandemic, we adhered to all state and federally recommended steps to help our students, teachers, and visitors remain healthy.

As the COVID-19 best practices continue evolve, so do our procedures. We work side-by-side with the Catawba County Department of Public Health to ensure that we are following the CDC's and North Carolina Department of Public Health's latest guidelines for school districts. 

Of course, we encourage our students, teachers, and staff who are not feeling well to stay home. Please explore the links below to learn more.

When to Stay Home

 

Chart explaining when students should stay home from school due to sickness
See Something, Say Something

"See Something, Say Something" Anonymous Reporting System

See Something Say Something CCS Logo

This service is designed to help you anonymously and securely report anything that's scaring or endangering you, your friends or your family. You don't need to be afraid to contact us. You never have to give us your name if you don't want to.

We take your security seriously at Catawba County Schools, and we will do everything we can to resolve your concern as quickly and as safely as possible.

  • In the event of an Emergency Dial 9-1-1
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255
  • The Anonymous Tip Line is monitored Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
     

Click here to send your Anonymous Tip