April S.P.A.R.K. meeting date announced

Hold the date for our April Meeting, Tuesday April 28th at 7pm in Town Hall ( 3rd floor)

The Gordie Foundation will present "HAZE" Please see www.gordie.org

Gordie Bailey was 18, a freshman at the University of Colorado. He was a star athlete in High School who had just made the Lacrosse team at the University of Colorado. Gordie died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing ceremony .

Teach your teens the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, binge drinking, peer pressure and hazing.

Check out more links

I had the pleasure of answering a few questions at last months S.P.A.R.K. meeting. Thanks to all of those who showed up and heard the story of Jane Nauman. Jane is obviously blessed with an opportunity to help people through the trials that she has gone through as a parent.

I also got to meet Christie Houtman with Southlake Moms and she will be listing this blog page soon on her website. Check the links and go over to www.southlakemoms.com and look around. There you will have the ability to get connected with other Southlake parents and share information. Christie also will be getting information out about S.P.A.R.K.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve.

"GAME OVER" 2009 comes to Carroll High School

Every two years Carroll High School has the privilege of producing the anti drinking and driving campaign known as "GAME OVER". This year's event will be held on May 21 and 22, 2009. "GAME OVER" is a two part program aimed at our ninth and tenth graders and the prevention of alcohol/drug related incidents. Students who wish to volunteer for "GAME OVER" are requested to stop by the Assistant Principal's office and sign up at Mrs. Duhon's desk. I have also included a link to the forms, see links under the badge on the right side of the main page, that need to be completed for each student to participate. Please stop by and sign up as soon as possible. We will need students to produce a video, act in the video, represent the "living dead" on May 21, 2009 at school as well as assist with the program in other ways. Please have your student stop by the Assistant Principal's office. If you have questions you can email School Resource Officer Smith at smithal@cisdmail.com or call at (817)949-5601. Feel free to let others in the community know about this event as well as other parents who would like to involve their CHS students. Thanks.

Welcome back 2008-2009!!!!!

As we prepare for the 2008-2009 school year I wanted to bring up a few items that are a concern each year.

First and usually of great concern is our parking around the campus. Just a few points to make sure everyone is on the same page.

1. Student parking is the north lot and students MUST purchase a parking pass from CISD administration building.
2. The front circle is reserved for VISITORS ONLY. No students are allowed to park in the front circle, even if you are travelling from the senior high for a class.
3. There are minimal handicap parking spots. If you park in the handicap parking without the proper placard or block a handicap access ramp you will be issued a citation.
4. Teacher parking is on the west side of the building and the south side of the building. No students are permitted in teacher parking.
5. The band utilizes the parking lot for practice, please vacate the student parking lot by 3:45 p.m.

Please leave early for school. The parking and driving areas will be crowded. Utilize CISD transportation.

Our crossing guard is committed to the safety of the children from our school and both Durham campuses. Please be respectful and very observant. Intentional disregard for the crossing guard will not be tolerated.

Please check back regularly for updates and links to important information for students and parents.

Thanks,

SRO Allen Smith

OUR HANDICAP PARKING SPACE AT CARROLL HIGH

Recently I have received several reports of parents with valid Disabled Parking Placards or License Plates not being able to access our marked Handicap Parking in front of CHS. After I responded out front and spoke with several people, my belief is that this is mostly caused by people "standing" (legal term I will explain later in this post) their vehicle in the handicap spot. I believe that most people who are standing their vehicle in the handicap spot are legitimately waiting to pick up or drop off their student. Unfortunately this also seems to happen when our parents and students that need access to that parking spot are waiting also.

Simply put, for mere courtesy sake if you are not disabled in some way which would legally allow you to occupy the Handicap Parking please do not use that place to pull up and pick up your student. I know it is convenient and close to the front door, and it is that way for a reason, please continue on around the front drive and ask your student to walk a few feet further.

And now for the legal stuff:
For those of you that stuck with me and are still reading if you want to know the legal specifics behind this post here they are:
Texas Transportation Code defines parking and standing as the following:
§ 541.401. MISCELLANEOUS TERMS
(6) "Park[0]" or "parking" means to stand[0] an occupied or unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
(9) "Stand[0]" or "standing" means to halt an occupied or unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while receiving or discharging passengers.

Obviously the same things, City of Southlake Ordinance Ch 18 Article V Section 151 goes even further and states that the loading and unloading of passengers must be in an "expeditious manner".

Texas Transportation Code 681.011 and City of Southlake Ordinance Ch 18:

prohibits Standing or Parking in a designated Handicap Parking spot without the correct plate or placard, blocking access or curb ramp or any other architectural improvement designed to assist the disabled.

These laws and ordinances also prohibit anyone with a valid plate or placard from parking or standing in those designated places unless they themselves are disabled or they are transporting a disabled person with them. Basically taking advantage of the plate or placard without having in the vehicle the person that the special designation benefits.

All of these offenses could result in a citation with up to a $500.00 fine.

CROSSING GUARD !!!!!

At CHS we have a crossing guard who assists our students and all Durham students in crossing White Chapel. Recently we have had problems with drivers not abiding by the law when it comes to our crossing guard.

Crossing guards and police officers are two of the very few that are able to stop and or direct traffic.

According to Texas Transportation Code Sec. 542.501 Obedience required to Police Officers and to School Crossing Guards.

A person may not willfully fail or refuse to comply with a lawful order or direction of :
A Police Officer, or
a school crossing guard,
who is performing crossing guard duties in a school crosswalk to stop and yield to a pedestrian.

Please comply with the direction of our crossing guard. While she is in the intersection with her STOP SIGN displayed, no one should proceed into or through the intersection. This includes turning right from the school onto southbound N. White Chapel.

You may not be able to see why she is stopping traffic.

Please respond with any questions and thanks for your cooperation and your avoidance of a citation.

Happy New Year.
SRO Allen Smith

CrimeStoppers

Hello,
This post will help you be able to navigate to CrimeStoppers. The Campus CrimeStopper Program has been a very valuable tool in the anonymous reporting of crimes. The program has been updated this year and it is more accessible via Internet and phone. The program has worked very well and now has the methods in place to better protect a student's identity.
If you have information that needs to be reported regarding campus safety you always can contact me at Carroll High School, but if you choose to remain anonymous CrimeStoppers has direct contacts for myself and the Assistant Principals at CHS. You may report a tip by calling 817-469-TIPS (8477) or visiting the CrimeStoppers website posted in the, LINKS UNDER THE BADGE section of my page.

ATTENTION PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!

With the rising concern of drug-abuse among our children today I encourage you to utilize all means available to you, to learn about the red flags, the effects and the dangers of this disturbing problem. I am posting information for you and your student to review. I am posting links to web-sites that have valuable information for you and your family.

Southlake DPS offers assistance to parents via the Parental Assistance Program. This program connects parents with a Southlake police officer who can assist them in drug identification, tips on what to look for and even assistance with confidential searches. If you are in need of this type of help please see the attached link and contact the appropriate officers.

Please consider taking some time to investigate. You can contact me through this forum or the school website if you have any questions.

LOOK FOR LINKS UNDER THE BADGE ON THE FRONT PAGE !

School Resource Officer Allen Smith

Hello CHS students, parents, staff and community,
I have create this blog with the purpose of sharing information relating to Law and Order at CHS. By this, I intend to share with you as much information as I can about the School Resource Officer Program and notable issues that may confront us in the CHS community. Please check back often as I will use this forum to give you information that is beneficial as well as ask the community for help regarding some CrimeStoppers tips.

As I learn to utilize this blog system there will be opportunities for you to contact me and ask questions as well as share information.

Thank you all for your continued support of the School Resource Officer Program and allowing us to serve you by serving your kids.