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 twice. We believe that the point of safety drills is to teach skills and give students the opportunity to practice them.

For this reason, the first round of drills are not a surprise. They are scheduled school-wide. Leading up to the scheduled drill, teachers take time to prepare students by talking about why drills are important, what the drill is and what student expectations are for the drill.

The second round of drills are intended to practice the already-learned skill in a real-life format. The drill type is announced at the start of each month, but the specific date and time are not known school-wide. By practicing the drill in real-life our staff gets a clearer picture of the effectiveness of our drill protocols and gives our Safety Team important data on how to adjust our procedures to ensure safety.

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.

Cedar Park staff is sensitive to the frightening nature of this particular drill. Classrooms have discussions before and after the drill to acknowledge these feelings and give emotional support as needed. Principal Z will communicate to families that a Lockdown Drill has occurred so that families are aware and can be prepared to emotionally support their student after the school day.

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
• 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.