Family Handbook 2023-24

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Lockdown

Lockdown drills are practised two times in the academic 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 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. Situations may occur where a the school may leave lockdown without the support of police personnel these include: ● Lockdown Drills: In a planned lockdown drill, the school will be notified that the drill is over by Security on the PA System. ● Accidental Lockdown Notification: In the case of an accidental lockdown notification, the school will be told the lockdown is over by a College administered mass notification system and an announcement by Security on the PA System. Students, employees, guests and parents who are on College grounds in the immediate vicinity of the College will be alerted by the outdoor speaker that the school is in lockdown. Entry into the College will not be permitted once the lockdown procedure is initiated. Anyone impacted externally should move to the nearest security location off-site.

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