School Lockdown Drill

Parents/Guardians,

Please note that we are planning on having a “Lockdown” drill at Highview School on Friday, November 24th, at 9:00 a.m. with our Community Officer present.

In the near future, we will also be having both “Shelter in Place” and “Hold and Secure” Drills. Please see below for more information regarding these drills and please discuss this with your child(ren).

“Shelter in Place”: (May be recommended by Police, Fire Dept. Emergency Response Services (EMS) is used for an environmental, or weather related situation, where it is necessary to keep all occupants within the school to protect them (e.g.. may include chemical spills, blackouts, explosions or extreme weather conditions that may affect student/staff safety such as downed wires during ice storms))

• People enter and remain in a building with the doors and windows closed
• Fans, including heating and air conditioning units, should be turned off to prevent outside air from entering the building, if it is determined that the air intake could pose a health or safety risk for occupants
• Normal operations may continue within the building.

“Hold and Secure”: (School most likely to be notified by Hamilton Police Services) is used when the school is secured due to an ongoing situation outside and not related to the school that requires all persons to remain in the building (e.g. bank robbery near a school)

•  the school continues to function normally, with the exterior doors locked until the situation
  is resolved
• a staff member posted near each entrance to ensure no one leaves the building
• all movement in and out of the school is restricted
• exterior facing windows should be covered or blinds drawn, lights dimmed, where possible
•  police will notify the school when it can come out of ‘Hold and Secure’

“Lockdown”: (usually initiated by Hamilton Police Services, sometimes by Principal or school personnel)
**A lockdown is defined by police as the restriction of movement during the time of a potentially serious violent threat or violent incident that would endanger the lives of students and staff.

• used when there is a violent incident or threat of serious violence within the school, or in relation to the school
• the threat is inside the school, or is on school property, and poses an immediate threat to the students and staff
• follow current lockdown procedures
• all movement within the school and into and out of the school is restricted
• doors remain open to permit police immediate entry

Please discuss these drills and the importance of these types of drills with your child(ren). For more information, please visit the links below:

Secure-Schools-Protocol

Thanks,
Mr. Pellizzari and Ms. Corbin Harper