Emergency Protocols: Keeping Students Safe and Families Informed

Student and staff safety is always our top priority. Our schools have clear emergency plans in place to respond quickly to any emergency we may face. We also know families want timely information. During an emergency, our first focus is safety. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will share updates with you.

You may hear terms like lockdown or hold and secure. These terms can be confusing. Here is what they mean and what to expect.

Emergency Terms You May Hear from Us

Drop-Cover-Hold

Used during an earthquake or when there is a risk of falling objects or debris. Students and staff take cover to protect themselves.

Shelter-in-Place

Shelter-in-place is used when it is safer to be inside the school and there is no threat of violence. This may include severe weather, a nearby hazard, or wildlife on school grounds. Students and staff return inside and activities continue as usual. Students are not released or dismissed until it is safe.

Shelter-in-Place Behind a Secure Door

Used when school staff are responding to a dysregulated person or a medical incident within the school to protect the privacy and dignity of the person involved. Students and staff are asked to clear the hallways and stay within their classrooms.

Hold and Secure 

Hold and secure is used when there is a potential threat outside the school. This may be due to police activity nearby or another situation in the community. Exterior doors are locked and entry is restricted. Activities continue inside the school. Students are not released or dismissed until it is safe.

Lockdown

Lockdown is used when there is a threat inside the school. Students and staff move to secure locations, lock doors, turn off lights, stay quiet, silence phones, and remain out of sight. No one is allowed in or out of a lockdown zone until the doors are unlocked by emergency responders. 

If your child’s school is ever in a lockdown, please do not text or call your child. Using a phone during lockdown can increase the risk for students and staff because the noise from notifications and even the light of the phone screen can let the intruder know where people are.

Evacuation

Sometimes it may be necessary for all students and staff to leave the school and go to an alternate location. In some cases, this may only mean going outside and away from the building until it is safe to re-enter. In other cases, students and staff may need to go to an evacuation centre. If students are evacuated to another location families will be told where students have been relocated as soon as possible.

Early Dismissal

Used when it is safest to send students home. Every attempt will be made to alert the emergency contact for each student and students will not be released unless contact has been made.

We Prepare Throughout the Year

Schools practice emergency drills regularly. These drills help students and staff respond quickly and reduce fear during real situations.

How Families Can Help

We understand that your natural instincts in an emergency may be to go to the school, but this might delay emergency crews’ and school staff’s response to the situation and endanger you and others. Please do not come to the school to pick-up your child unless you are asked to do so. If you arrive at the school during an emergency, please understand that we cannot compromise the safety of students or staff to accommodate an individual’s requests.

Please do not call the school or your child’s cell phone. Phone lines need to remain open for handling the emergency and communicating with emergency responders. Depending on the type of emergency calling your child’s cell phone may put them at greater risk by drawing attention to their location in a lockdown, or because cell phones can act as an ignition source for fires or explosions.

Getting Accurate Information

In an emergency, rely on the school district for updates. We will share information as soon as it’s safe and will be as open as possible. Please know though that we need to respect and protect the privacy of ALL students and families. This means that if a situation involves a member of the school community, we will not identify them or provide specifics about how a person is dealt with.   

Emergency notices will be posted through school and district websites and through the parent app. If you have the parent app downloaded on your cell phone and notifications enabled, you will get these emergency notices to your cell phone as soon as they are posted. Search for CRSD72 Parent App in the App Store or Google Play. You will need to create an account using the email address you have on file with your child’s school.

Be Cautious with Social Media

When a school emergency occurs emotions run high, tweets and posts fly, and rumours grow. Steer clear of noise, rumours and false information, especially on social media, during an emergency. Participating in these types of posts can create more confusion and chaos, which no one wants.

The sharing of what could be misinformation, rumors or suspicions, including the names of those potentially involved, can interfere with the response, lead to confusion and online harassment, as well as risk the safety of students and staff.

Stay Connected

If you have concerns about something you’ve seen or heard, contact your school or the district. We are here to help and to provide clear, accurate information.