WHAT SHOULD PARENTS/GUARDIANS DO IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY?
In an emergency situation, our administrators’ first priority is to ensure the safety and security of our learners and staff. They follow the policies and procedures the district has put in place to address emergencies. In these situations, we understand it is natural for parents to want to call or visit the school, but those calls and visits can actually hinder school staff and emergency personnel as they try to deal with emergency situations. Here are some tips to help parents during an emergency:
- Be wary of initial reports. Information moves quickly today and often initial reports are inaccurate or just plain wrong. Watch for updates from official sources.
- Watch for updates from official district sources. The district will share information as quickly as possible using a variety of tools, including texts, emails, the district’s website, the district’s automated calling system, social media outlets and local media such as newspaper, TV and radio.
- Be patient. The first few minutes of an emergency situation can be chaotic. It can take a little time to collect reliable information. As soon as that information is available, the district will share it with parents.
- Keep communications with your child short. It is natural for parents to want to get in touch with their child(ren) during an emergency. However, trying to call a child’s cell phone may prevent them from hearing important, life-saving information. Texting may be a better option, but keep the exchanges short. Before an emergency, talk to your child(ren) about what kind of information is helpful to share in these situations. For example, “I am safe” or “We’re being evacuated.”
We appreciate that so many local families entrust their loved ones to our care throughout the school year and we are grateful for your willingness to work TOGETHER to understand and follow these practices. We all share a common priority to keep our learners and staff as safe as possible all day, every day.
We will follow up with another reminder for the 2024-2025 school year to include any updates or changes to our safety protocols.
- Emergency Communication
- School Safety