School-Wide Response Protocols

The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Cedar Park practices our safety procedures once a month. Throughout the year, we will practice all drills at least once. We believe that the point of safety drills is to teach skills and give students the opportunity to practice them.

For this reason, drills are not meant to be a surprise. Staff will speak to students before the event, to outline what will happen and what their expectations are. It is made clear to students that this is practice and that they are safe.

Shelter in Place

This is called when there is a hazard around the building or on/near school grounds. Students should:

• Go inside the building
• Return to homeroom classroom
• Continue with classroom instruction inside the building

Lockdown

This is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the building or on/near school grounds. Students should:

• Move out of sight & maintain silence
• Listen to and follow instructions from their teacher
• An administrator or first responder will tell them when the drill/event is over.

Fire Alarm

This is called when there is a safety issue inside the building and students and staff must evacuate. Students should:

• Leave everything behind
• Listen to and follow instructions from their teacher
• Form a single line
• Be prepared for alternate route
• Last person out turns off lights & closes door
• Calmly & quietly walk to evacuation location
• Quietly wait in line for directions

Earthquake

Students should:

• Drop/Cover/Hold
• Remain Silent
• Listen to and follow instructions
• Anticipate evacuation after the quake subsides

Reverse Evacuation

This is called when there is a safety issue outside the building and the students are at recess or otherwise outside (example: lighting storm). Staff/Parent Volunteer will whistle three times and students enter building through the closest door. Students whose homerooms are in the building return to their classroom. Students whose homeroom is in a Portable classroom will line up in pre-designated areas in the building’s main hall where they will be supervised and directed by school staff. All reverse evacuations become a shelter in place unless otherwise notified.