Click HERE for access to the School Emergency Program - a guide for parents and guardians.
School Protocol
In addition to the procedures described below, schools also practice protocols such as "Drop-Cover-Hold," a method of protecting vital body parts during some natural disasters, and conduct fire drills. All staff and students are required to participate in these drills.
Lock Down | Lock-down is used when there is a threat or potential threat of violence to students and/or staff inside the school. During a Lock-Down all doors to and within the school are locked. No one is permitted in or out of any area once it has been locked. Students and staff must respond very quickly to a Lock-Down command to get to a safe location before doors are locked. No one, other than law enforcement, is permitted access to the building until the Lock-Down is over. |
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Hold and Secure | Hold and secure is used when there is a threat or potential threat of violence to students and/or staff outside the school. During a Hold and Secure, all entrance doors to the school are locked, with no one permitted in or out of the building. Movement is permitted inside the school, and inside activities can continue. No one, other than law enforcement, is permitted access to the building until the Hold and Secure has cleared. |
Shelter-in-Place | Shelter-in-Place is used when there is NO THREAT OF VIOLENCE but directing and controlling movement inside the school is prudent. A Shelter-in-Place may be called for any of the following reasons: an environmental emergency, severe weather, student, or staff requiring first aid/medical/focused attention. During a Shelter-in-Place, students and staff retreat to classrooms/safe zones to seek shelter or simply clear the hallways, allowing for both privacy of a student requiring attention and unrestricted access for emergency responders. This protocol may or may not include having students or staff who are outdoors come back into the school. Doors are not locked during this protocol. Students will not be released or dismissed until the situation has been resolved. |
Evacuation | Evacuation is used when there is possible danger INSIDE the school (with no threat of violence) and it is safer to be outside the school than inside (e.g., fire, gas leak). This may mean only going outside and away from the building until it is safe to re-enter the school. In other cases, students and staff may need to go to an evacuation centre. Parents will be informed of the alternate location through the schools Crisis Notification Network. |
Dismissal | If necessary, a Controlled Student Release Procedure will be used to release students to an authorized emergency contact |
Training and Drills
All staff is regularly trained on emergency protocols. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SCHOOLS CONDUCT TRAINING AND DRILLS to rehearse emergency procedures and help better prepare students and staff for possible emergency situations. These exercises prepare students and staff to act quickly and help to minimize a child's fear during a real emergency.
Collaboration with emergency responders
Although standardized protocols and procedures provide the basis for our response, the way in which we respond to an emergency is greatly influenced by the specifics of an incident. We are driven foremost by our concern of ensuring student and staff safety.
Our Division collaborates closely with local emergency personnel to ensure plans are coordinated with appropriate agencies. The Division's plans do not replace the authority of law enforcement, fire or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - staff members work in full cooperation with these agencies.
Reuniting with your Child
We recognize that when an emergency occurs parents will be worried and want to be reunited with their child as quickly as possible. It is our intention to make this happen.
However, to ensure every child's safety and the safety of staff, specific procedures have been established for releasing students. These procedures may be modified depending on the circumstance. Parents are asked to adhere to the parent-child reunification procedures listed below (in "Communicating during an emergency").
Staff will work hard to ensure these procedures take place without delay. However, please understand the process will take some time: we ask for your patience when you arrive at the Parent-Child Reunion Area.
Communicating During an Emergency
When an emergency occurs, please do not come to the school to pick up your child unless requested to do so. Doing so could impede the response to the situation and also interfere with emergency crews' and school personnel's efforts to deal with the emergency. Extra vehicles and people at the site make the task more difficult. Please follow the instructions provided to you through the communications channels outlined below.
If you arrive at the school in the midst of an emergency, please respect the protocol in progress. While we understand personal circumstances or initial reactions might move you to do something contrary to the school's established procedures, we cannot compromise the safety of students or staff to accommodate individual requests that could put anyone at risk.
Do not call the school. Do not call your child's cell phone.
- Phone systems need to remain available for handling the actual emergency.
- Overloading the system may mean the school cannot communicate with first responders.
- Calling your child's cell phone during an emergency may be putting them at higher risk by disclosing their location or drawing attention to them during a lock-down.
Keeping You Informed
During an emergency, our FIRST PRIORITY is to protect students and staff.
Next, we will do everything in our power to keep you informed. DURING AN EMERGENCY, it is unlikely you will be able to reach the school by phone. We will, however, make every effort to contact parents directly or by one of the methods noted below.
- Crisis Notification Network and/or the Media - Parents will be alerted to emergency situations via our BrightArrow notification system. In order to receive these notifications, please ensure your contact information is up-to-date at your school. Stay tuned to local TV and radio stations for news alerts.
- Website, Social Media - When appropriate, the District will also keep parents informed by posting information regarding the emergency on the District website. We may also add information to social media.
PLEASE rely on the Division and our schools for accurate, dependable, firsthand details and updates.