Jaffrey Grade School

The building itself & location:
— They’ve been consistently taking measures year over year to improve the building’s security. There are 6 – 7 entrances to the school & they used to leave them all open all day long. Over the last few years they’ve been locking the doors during the day. Finger printing & a background check is required district-​wide if you’re a parent or guardian volunteering on a field trip which is good. Two years ago they installed security cameras outside of the school. New this school year, during the day, all of the doors are locked & you have to enter next to the office & ring a door bell & announce who you are to a staff member (they can see who it is on camera) & they buzz you in.
— It’s a standard elementary school building. Nothing too fancy although some of the classrooms do have smart boards now. Cafeteria, classrooms, library, media lab, gymnasium/​auditorium, etc.
— It’s on a small plot of land but there is a decent-​sized play ground & a few raised garden beds in the front of the school & a small garden area behind the school.
— It’s right off of Main Street & there are two crossing guards in the morning & afternoon — one at the 4-​way intersection & another at the intersection of Main St & School St, so it’s a safe, convenient location. There are always plenty of parents who walk their kids to & from school & it’s a small town so you get to know everyone by face quickly.
The staff, principal, support staff (not teachers):
— The principal is very involved in everything from the school itself to the extra curricular activities to the parents group. She must not sleep, honestly. We ran into her 2+ hours (one-​way) from town one weekend — we were in the area for a different event & she was there cheering on the school’s Destination Imagination team.
— The secretary & receptionist are nice & they know the students by name & if you’re a regular at the school (or a regular in prior years) they know who’s parent you are & probably your name & your child’s teacher & grade. Small town!
— The nurse is ver