Security and Emergency Procedures:
If a pupil is to be sent home for any reason, he/she will be signed out at the school office and accompanied by an authorized adult. No pupil may be dismissed during the school day unless the Principal or office personnel have contacted the parent or other responsible adult.
All parents and adult guest visitors must sign in at the main office and obtain a dated/timed Visitor’s Badge. All visits must be prearranged and approved by the teacher. Parents assisting in the classroom must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
Alumni students are permitted to visit in order to fulfill service hours for high school or confirmation requirements. All visits must be prearranged and approved by the teacher. Alumni visitors must sign in at the main office and obtain a dated/timed Visitor’s Badge.
Non-OLL students are not permitted on campus without prior permission from the office.
Our Lady of Lourdes School shall adhere to the State Health and Safety Code, including the installation of protective warning devices, or any other requirement that the Fire Department certifies as necessary for fire safety in the school building.
It is the responsibility of the Principal or her representative and teachers and staff to provide adequate supervision of the pupils while they are in school or participating in school-sponsored activities.
Emergency Procedures
Written Crisis Management Plan: It is the responsibility of the Principal of each school to develop a written Crisis Management plan for emergency procedures. These procedures are reviewed and updated annually by the Principal and faculty and shared with parents and all concerned.
General Procedure
1. Route for egress shall be through safe areas; not under high tension wires, etc.
2. The entire student body will be assembled in one area when deemed safe to make communication and supervision easier.
3. A buddy system between every two teachers will be established so that where necessary, a back-up procedure for first aid and supervision can be activated.
4. Procedures for releasing pupils to their parents in case of evacuation shall be exact and well communicated to the parents ahead of time.
5. Plans shall be made to provide for pupils until their parents are able to take them or until they are evacuated to a central shelter.
Emergency Closing of the School
Emergency dismissal of the entire school may be made by the Principal or their representative when a serious condition warrants it such as an epidemic natural disaster, structural damage to school building or any other unsafe condition. The Principal will assess the condition and decide on a day-to-day basis whether the school will be in session or not.
Should the Principal decide to close the school, parents will be informed.
The Principal will notify the Department of Catholic Schools if such a closure is implemented. Emergency Drills
Fire, earthquake, and disaster drill shall be in conformity with state, county and local requirements. A record of dates and times of drills shall be kept in the Principal’s office. Drills should be conducted at least monthly.
Duties of the Principal
1. In all emergencies it is the ultimate responsibility of the Principal or delegated staff member to guard the safety of the school staff and pupils.
2. Appropriate emergency services (fire, police, etc.) will be contacted immediately, and drill procedures will be implemented.
3. Once the building has been evacuated, it will be secured against re-entry until its safety has been confirmed.
4. The utility companies (gas, electric, etc.) will be notified if any breaks or suspected breaks in power or water lines are detected
Duties of the Teacher
1. The teacher is responsible for the safety and supervision of the assigned pupils during all emergency procedures.
2. The professionalism and self-composure of the teacher is essential in maintaining an atmosphere of calm during an emergency.
Fire Drills
It is the Principal’s responsibility to comply with state and local fire safety regulations, including the following:
● Fire drills shall be held once a month.
● All pupils, teachers, and employees are required to leave the building.
● As soon as possible after the signal has been given, each teacher is obliged to take attendance, to see that every pupil in his/her charge has been accounted for, and to report missing pupils to the Principal.
● Evacuation plans will be displayed in every room in the building, including the auditorium, Dekat Hall, and library.
Earthquake Drill
If inside the building, teachers will direct pupils to:
● Drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold onto it firmly.
● Stay away from windows, mirrors, skylights or objects that may fall over.
● If students are not near a desk or table, they will be instructed to drop to the floor against an interior wall and protect their head and neck with their arms.
● Stay in place until the quake is over or pupils are instructed to leave.
● If damage is minor, building evacuation need not be initiated, and teachers can return to normal procedures. ● If damage is major, an orderly fire drill shall be conducted to evacuate the buildings. Pupils shall move to a position well away from the buildings, walls, and power lines. Teachers shall take roll, report missing pupils and await further instructions.
● If outside the school building, children will be instructed to get clear of all buildings, walls, power poles, and objects that could fall.
Procedures during time of Emergency:
Earthquake: In the event of an earthquake during school hours, OLL has a procedure by which the students will exit the building and remain seated in the center of the playgrounds. The school’s Crisis Management Plan will go into effect.
Each student has a Personal Emergency Kit containing a snack, a game or coloring book, and other items to provide comfort. Emergency supplies including first aid equipment are stored on campus.
All teachers and staff members have assignments. Stations will be established for a Command Center, First Aid, Hospital, and Student Control Area.
Parents are urged to follow the directions of the teachers and staff. Each child must be signed out. A Parent Control Area will be established. Parents are to go to the Parent Area first. Teachers/Staff members will direct parents where to go to get their child. Children will only be released to persons listed on the child’s Disaster Information card. Please update your card as needed.
In the event of an earthquake immediately before or after school, children who walk to/from school should be instructed to continue in the same direction so that you can anticipate their whereabouts.
Bomb Threat: When a bomb threat is received, the primary concern of the Principal must be the safety of
pupils and employees in the building. Immediately upon receiving a bomb threat, the following procedure shall be followed:
● The police are called. Police officers are instructed to respond to such calls without the use of sirens or red lights. ● During the bomb threat, the decision to hold a fire drill or to take other action shall be made by the Principal in consultation with fire and police officials.
● If the building is to be evacuated, fire drill procedures are followed, and the pupils remain at the designated areas until the building is declared safe.
● Wait for the police to arrive before a search is conducted. If a suspicious package, box or device is located and suspected of being the bomb, do not touch or move it.
● It will be the responsibility of the police to remove or deactivate it. After removal, pupils and staff may return to class.
● If, after an excessive search, no suspected bomb is found, the decision of whether or not to permit pupils and staff to re-enter the building will be made by the Principal, tempered by the advice of the police authorities.
LOCK DOWN: If a situation arises outside the classroom, whoever is supervising the class/classes will assemble the children and return to the classrooms. Teachers, staff, and students will be notified and will follow emergency procedures. All teachers and staff are properly trained for such instances. A voice message, email, or text message will be sent to parents by the Principal or designated personnel to notify the parents of the emergency.
Extreme Weather Emergencies (Heat, Flooding, Cold): Decisions to suspend classes will depend on the seriousness of the emergency. The Principal will assess the situation and/or will abide by the decision of the nearest public school district (if in session) or directives from the Archdiocese.
Procedures in the Event of a Missing Child
1. Make a brief yet thorough check of the school grounds.
2. Call parents and anyone whose name appears on the emergency pick up card to check if they picked up the child. 3. If the first two steps fail in locating the child, IMMEDIATELY call the police, making available to them a picture of the child, age, height, and weight descriptions that can be found in the student’s cumulative file.
Procedures in the Event of a Child Collapsing During School Time: A ‘First Aid Certified’ staff member or teacher immediately attends to the student, administering first aid as needed. If the injuries or condition of the student appears to be serious, 911 is immediately called. An accident report form/personal incident form will be filled out and sent to the appropriate office or department.
Procedures in the Event That a Student Brings a Weapon, especially a gun, to School: The Principal will consult diocesan guidelines. A student will be suspended or expelled for acts including possession of harmful weapons or materials which can be used as weapons.
