Refer to complete procedures included in the District’s School Emergency Preparedness Guide

School Contact Number: 250-386-3591

Principal: Gillian Braun / Vice Principal: Dave Shortreed                                                                                      

Alternative Evacuation Site Location: Sir James Douglas Elementary School

Protocols could not possibly be outlined for every emergency situation.  The professional judgment of the administrator will always be important in determining actions.  The following is a quick reference for some of the processes in place to deal with emergency situations.

Please refer to the following for updated information during an emergency within our district or regarding specific schools: www.sd61.bc.ca, CFAX, 107.3, 100.3

EMERGENCY DRILLS AND SUPPORT INFORMATION

CIRT

The Critical Incident Response Team provides support to schools and families in dealing with critical incidents through the provision of expertise, resources, and additional counseling.  The team will develop an action plan in response to a critical incident and may invite the district CIRT to provide further support.

EARTHQUAKE

In the event of an earthquake, students will be instructed to drop and cover.  Drop and cover follows this process: drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it until the shaking stops.  Evacuation will proceed as outlined in the School Emergency Preparedness Guide.  Earthquake drills are practiced a minimum of twice per year at each grade level.

FIRE

In the event of a fire within a school, the fire alarm will be sounded by the person discovering the fire.  Students will be evacuated from the building using the nearest safe exit and will assemble at a predetermined location where attendance will be taken and the names of missing students and their possible locations are reported to the Principal.  Fire drills are practiced on a regular basis, once per month at elementary and every two months at middle and secondary.

HOLD & SECURE

A ‘hold & secure’ should be used when it is desirable to secure the school due to an ongoing situation outside the school and not related to the school (e.g. a robbery occurs near a school, a cougar has been sighted in the neighbourhood).  In this situation the school continues to function normally, with the exterior doors being locked until such time as the situation near the school is resolved.  After any hold & secure, a communication should go out to parents/guardians briefly outlining the situation and how it was handled.

LOCKDOWN

A ‘lockdown’ should only be used when there is a major incident or threat of school violence within the school, or in relation to the school.  The school will follow the established lockdown procedures.  Parents should wait for information from the school district before coming to the school. After any lockdown, communication should go out to parents/guardians briefly outlining the situation and how it was handled.  Lockdown drills are practiced at the school, at least once per year, and include the school liaison officer.

VTRA

Fair Notice, from time to time it may be necessary to complete a Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) in response to threatening behavior toward students or staff.  To ensure the safety of students, staff, parents and others, threats must be taken seriously, investigated and responded to.  The VTRA will allow the school to plan the interventions necessary to prevent traumatic events in schools.

PARENT INFORMATION

In the event that students cannot be released from the school site, our alternative student pick-up location site is Sir James Douglas Elementary School.

Please wait for information from the school district before coming to the school to pick up your child. Information can be found at:  www.sd61.bc.ca, CFAX, 107.3, 100.3

***Student’s will only be released to the parent/guardians or individual(s) listed as an emergency designate. Please ensure the school has updated information for your child.***