State and federal laws require employers, schools, and places of
public assembly to provide an environment that is healthy and safe for
all. The archdiocese is committed to ensuring that all staff,
parishioners, students, and guests can work, worship, learn, and visit
without encountering known health hazards or dangerous conditions. As
ministers to the faithful, every clergy member, employee, and volunteer
in our parishes and schools shall place the safety and welfare of the
young and vulnerable above their own safety. Due to the multifaceted
services the archdiocese offers in different locations, and in deference
to the canonical principle of subsidiarity, as a matter of archdiocesan
policy each location is separately responsible for providing a safe,
secure, and healthy environment for all.
Each location must
follow the programs, policies, and procedures of the archdiocese as
distributed or posted by the archdiocese. Everyone at each location is
responsible for maintaining overall environmental health and safety.
However, certain persons are charged with specific responsibilities in
this regard:
The
person in charge at every location must, in consultation and collaboration with others, develop and implement
emergency programs and plans, risk management procedures, and
injury and illness prevention programs.
Staff members should be trained to observe their surroundings and inform the person in charge of potential hazards, dangerous conditions, and people who may need attention.
Students
and other participants in school and parish programs should be taught
the elements of safe conduct and environmental awareness.
Earthquake Emergency Plan
In the event of a serious earthquake during school hours, please do not telephone the school. Lines must be kept open for remergency use. School gates will be closed to keep all non-essential persons outside the school grounds. Druing the initial evacuations, students will assemble in the quadrangle (rooms 4-16) and in the back play area (rooms Preschool, Mod-1, Mod-2, rooms 1-3 and room 17). Eventually, students will be grouped alphabetically with other family members in the back yard. All students will be cared for in the supervised areas until picked up.
According to State Law, students will be released only to a parent or other specifically designated person who must be 18 years of age or older. We have this information on our St. Catherine's Emergency Forms on file in the school office. These forms are removed from the office and utilized for every school emergency as needed. Please be sure your child knows the person you have designated to pick them up .
Briefly, instructions for parents are:
1. Remain calm
2. Do not phone the school; lines are needed for emergency use
3. Tune in to your local radio station
4. Upon arrival at school, report to the adult in charge to sign out your child/children.
If an emergency occurs outside of school hours, please listen to your local radio station for instructions on school closure. As a general rule, St. Catherine Labouré School will follow the same procedure as the public schools in Torrance.
