Lockdown Procedures

There are events that can occur on or around the school grounds that call for safety concerns. Given the varying exposures to potential danger, the school has safety lock down levels to address the various safety concerns.

 

Level 1: ALERT          Activity in the surrounding area:

• Perimeter secured.
• School communicates with local law enforcement.
• Normal activity on campus. Parents may drop off and pick up students.
• Communicate with parents. Provide regular updates by text message

 

Level 2: CAUTION     Activity adjacent to the school:

• Perimeter secured.
• School communicates with local law enforcement
• Students and staff remain inside locked school building. Students and staff who are outside the school building return to the school building.
• Normal activities inside the school building.
• Exterior doors and windows are closed, covered and locked.
• No one, including parents, are permitted to enter or leave the school building.
• Police may be at school.
• Communicate with parents. Provide regular updates by text message

 

Level 3: CRITICAL INCIDENT EMERGENCY         Imminent threat to safety:

• Students and staff shelter in place in classrooms or offices.
• Interior and exterior doors and windows are closed, covered and locked.
• No one, including parents, should come to the school or school parking lot.
• Students and staff who are outside the school building at the time of a direct threat evacuate to the neighborhood (if the threat prevents them from entering the building) or they go inside the building if the threat does not prevent them from entering the building. The decision to move into the school building or evacuate away from the school will be made by adults supervising the area (lunch tables, playground, and parking area) who assess the situation. School staff will escort students to the emergency relocation center (Dana Point Community Center).
• Communicate with parents. Provide regular updates by text message.
• Police will be at school. Their directions supersede all others including school.

 

Parent expectations during a Level 2 or Level 3 school lockdown:

• Do not come to school to pick up your child(ren). Students, staff and volunteers are not allowed to enter or exit the school building during a level 2 or 3 lockdown.
• Do not try to contact the school for information about the lockdown.
• Read school communications and follow directions provided in the message.
• Check the settings on your phone to ensure you receive text-messaging updates.

Emergency assets at the school:

• Armed security guard on campus during the school day.
• Deadbolt locks at the bottom of all doors inside the school.
• Blackout covers on all interior doors with windows.
• Window blinds that cover the exterior windows.
• Emergency medical supplies in all classrooms.
• Landline phone in every classroom allows teachers to call 911.
• Teachers/staff can initiate a lockdown from their classroom or office.
• Students and staff practice emergency procedures.
• Continuous/ongoing training for staff.
• Two-way communication devices - Walkie-Talkie, in each classroom.
• Internal and external security cameras

 

A school lockdown serves several functions during an emergency, including the following:

• Protect students and staff from the threat.
• Isolate the dangerous situation from the school.
• Allow for accurate accounting of students, staff and volunteers.
• Depending on the situation, facilitate an organized evacuation away from the dangerous area.
• Support emergency personnel (police, medical, fire) responding to an emergency at our school.

 

FAQ’s

Q: Can a student be picked up during a lockdown?

A: No, not during a level 2 or 3 lockdown. A level 2 or 3 lock down is in place to ensure the safety of the students and staff by securing the building’s entry points. Opening doors jeopardizes the security of those in the building. In addition, being in the area during a lockdown, including the school parking lot, may put you at risk. Finally, driving in the area, including the school parking lot, may block access to emergency responders (police, medical, fire).

 

Q: If a parent is inside the school during a lockdown, can they leave?

A: No, not during a level 2 or 3 lockdown. A level 2 or 3 lockdown is initiated due to a threat in the area. Leaving would expose you to the threat and jeopardize the safety of those inside the school building.

 

Q: Can parents come to school and wait in the parking lot until the lockdown ends?

A: No. By doing so, you may put yourself at risk of being in harm’s way. All driveways and streets must remain clear for emergency personnel and vehicles. Being in the immediate area during an emergency can interfere with the emergency response, jeopardize the health and safety of students and staff inside the school building and put yourself at risk.

 

Q: Why shouldn’t I contact the school during a level 2 or level 3 lockdown?

A: During a level 2 or level 3 lockdown, the school will not have the ability to take individual calls from concerned parents. The administration and office staff will be busy monitoring the situation. During a level 2 or level 3 lockdown, the school will provide real time updates to parents. If an over reactive parent calls and calls they either tie up the phones and valuable school resources or, if we are not able to get to the call, they believe the lack of school response means something worse and feel compelled to rush immediately to the campus.