Following recent altercations at Newtown High School, an advisory period was held on March 30 to emphasize behavioral expectations.

NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco said after the day’s lesson that “it was actually very well received.”

Advisory periods are typically held in the morning, before classes begin, for all students.

The March 30 advisory period, according to Longobucco, allowed the school community to revisit some behavioral expectations that have not been discussed with students since the start of the year.

“We’re just going to stay on top of this and hope our students can be the exceptional students that we know they are,” Longobucco said, adding that being clear about rules and expectations is a big part of those efforts.

As reported in the March 25 print edition story, “Three ‘Aggressive Altercations’ At NHS Prompt Juvenile Charges,” there were numerous arrests following recent altercations that occurred at the school in March.

Along with an increase in the school’s security presence, Longobucco said the advisory period emphasized the school needs “to be a safe place where everyone is safe to learn. It needs to be an inclusive place.”

During the advisory periods educators spoke to students about the recent events. Longobucco said the topics of respect, responsibility, and reporting, were also discussed, along with civic responsibility and the consequences of actions.

The long-term impacts of an expulsion or suspension were also looked at, not to scare students, but to remind them of the effects of actions, the principal said.

“It definitely was a necessary review,” said Longobucco.

Students were also reminded that NHS is working with the Newtown Police Department (NPD) to make sure the school is safe, and the increased security presence was also covered.

District Director of Security Mark Pompano said the district’s Rapid Response Teams (RRT) were initiated following the incidents, which reworked the district’s configuration of security officers to provide more oversight at NHS. The other schools in the district are still covered, according to Pompano.

“It has definitely had an impact,” Pompano said, adding that he understands the high school’s administration appreciates the extra focus on security. Following the RRT increase, expectations are in place for all security protocols, according to Pompano.

With the increased security and the administration’s response, Pompano said the data shows “we nipped this in the bud.”

“It’s a team effort,” said Pompano.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue said April 6 the advisory period is the “perfect venue” to discuss topics of a sensitive nature with students.

Rodrigue shared there are many reasons why districts across the state are seeing changes in student behaviors following the last two years. She also said — from her recollection as superintendent, former principal at NHS, and former assistant principal at NHS — altercations at the high school have not occurred in recent memory until last month.

“Dr Longobucco is an excellent principal, who handled it immediately,” said Rodrigue.

Longobucco said the incidents “do not define us.”

“This is not who I believe our student body is,” said Longobucco.

Like Rodrigue, Longobucco stressed incidents like those that occurred in March do not happen “every day.”

“We were clearly heightened, for whatever reason, for a period of time, and we needed a little reset,” Longobucco said.

NHS students in general, Longobucco assessed, are stepping back and making the right decisions when events of this nature occur.

“We have a really wonderful school and a really wonderful staff and these unfortunate events do not define who we are, as a school, and a student body,” said Longobucco.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.