“Drill and Practice” is no longer a reference to math flash cards or spelling words. Students in today’s schools also “drill and practice” for many emergency situations. Monthly fire drills help students practice exiting classrooms and the building quickly. Large numbers over exit doors direct fire/rescue teams to the appropriate location. Tornado drills occur annually, and offices have weather radios and means for emergency communication.  Should a school need to evacuate for any reason, a Crisis Management Plan details student relocation and parent notification. School Crisis Management Teams are trained and practice responding to emergency scenarios.  Teachers have been trained to respond to a “lock down” announcement to secure the classroom and building quickly. Should a chemical in the atmosphere pose a threat, schools institute a plan to “Shelter in Place” by closing all windows, securing doors from exit and entry, and shutting down electrical air intake systems. Students remain “sheltered” until public safety officials signal “all clear.”  In emergencies, we make every effort to relay critical information to parents. So that you, too, may be prepared, FCPS has the Keep in Touch (KIT) notification system in place. While parents are enrolled each year
when they return their emergency care form, interested parents can go to http://www.fcps.edu/kit/ to customize KIT messages from Fairfax County Public Schools.

 

Rebecca Baenig
Principal