Hold and Secure Drill

This Wednesday October 27 in the morning, Saltfleet District High School will be reviewing and participating in a “Hold and Secure” Drill. This secure school response is used when the school needs to be secured due to an ongoing situation outside and not related to the school itself. It requires that we all remain in the building to stay safe.

During a “Hold and Secure” response, all staff and students that are outside are to come in immediately.

There will be an announcement as follows: “Our school is initiating a Hold and Secure response. Caretakers, please lock exterior doors. Available staff members, please report to the main office for assignment to an exterior door according to our school safety plan. We will let you know as soon as the situation is resolved. Thank you.”

 Once everyone is in the building, the exterior doors will be locked and staff will attend each entry point to monitor.

Once the Hold and secure response has been ended, there will be another announcement to confirm: “Our school has completed a Hold and Secure response. Thank you for your co-operation.”

While in a “Hold and Secure” response our school and classes continue to function as they normally would. Again, because the potential danger is outside the building, the exterior doors will be locked until the situation is resolved. As always, you are expected to follow the directions of your teacher.

As a reminder, during any secure school procedure, there is the potential that uniformed police will be in the building to inform and support best practices as they relate to the safety of the school community.

Wednesday’s drill will align with Public Health Guidelines, which means we will continue the use of masks and will remain physically distanced.

Please note that in the event of an emergency or crisis, public health advice related to COVID-19 may not be achievable, based on the response required. In an emergency/crisis event, priority is on the imminent threat, not enhanced public health measures.