Family Handbook 2019-20

Emergency Procedures

Evacuation Evacuation drills are held six times throughout the school year in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code. The signal to evacuate is a continuous triple ring. All individuals must leave immediately by the nearest exit and assemble in designated parking lots around the school by Core Class in the Junior School, and by House and Form in the Upper School so that the Junior and Upper School Day School Offices can account for student attendance. Emergency evacuation information is posted in each room. Students, faculty and staff are instructed to leave their belongings in the building. Evacuations occur in the event of a fire, gas leak or some other emergency in which the building must be evacuated immediately regardless of the weather. Students, faculty, and staff are not permitted to enter the building until the ‘All Clear’ signal has been f=given by Havergal’s security team. Lockdown Lockdown drills are practiced two times in the school year in accordance with Ontario Safe Schools guidelines. A lockdown is a response to a critical emergency situation wherein the evacuation of a school building is neither safe nor advisable and steps are required to isolate students, faculty and staff members from danger. Generally the threat lies inside the building. In a lockdown situation, students gather in the closest lockable space. The signal to go into a lockdown is three bells followed by an announcement from Security indicating the school is in ‘Lockdown’. Students must silence their cell phones, pull down all blinds, turn the lights off and remain absolutely quiet. Under no circumstances should students leave the locked down space or open the door until police personnel escort them out of the space. In a planned lockdown drill, students will be told the drill is over by Security on the PA System. Parents and guests are not permitted to enter the school during a lockdown procedure. Hold and Secure Hold and Secure is a response to a threat in the general vicinity of a school, but not related to the school. This could be a police pursuit, a crime in progress or an active search by local police for a suspect within the neighbourhood. Students, faculty, staff and visitors are considered to be safe inside the school. If it is deemed safe, school activities may continue as usual inside the building only. The signal to go into hold and secure is three bells followed by an announcement from Security indicating the action required.

Last Edited: August 20, 2019 Havergal College Family Handbook 2019–20

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