An important component of maintaining a safe and secure learning environment is proactively practicing safety drills to ensure our students and staff understand what to do in the event an emergency situation arises during the school day. In addition to practicing fire drills and tornado drills, our school also practices lockdown drills.
At Montezuma Schools, we follow all state regulations and safety protocols with regular practice of fire drills, tornado drills, and lockdown drills each school year. The district works closely with a safety committee to help prepare for these situations. The safety committee is comprised of school leaders, building representatives and school nurse.
What parents should do to prepare for a school emergency?
- Be sure your child’s emergency contact information is correct on JMC. Notify your child’s school promptly if this information changes. The people on this list are the only ones that can obtain your child during an emergency. Please contact school secretary, Becky Bryan, to update your emergency contact information.
- Talk with your child about the importance of remaining calm and following instructions in the event of an emergency.
- Have your child practice his or her full name, address, and phone numbers in order to contact you or other authorized adult in the event of an emergency.
What should parents do during an emergency?
- Do not call the school until notified
- Wait for communication via school communication system
- Tune in to local television or radio stations
- Check district social media sites for possible updates. These include Facebook and Twitter.
- Understand that the district may require families to pick up their children at a reunification site other than their school. In this case, please bring your photo ID. The district will communicate the location of the reunification site through the channels provided above.
What should parents do following an emergency?
- It is important to provide emotional support to a child in the aftermath of a crisis situation.
- Watch for clues that your child might want to talk, but understand that not all children will want or need to talk about these events. Some children may not express their concerns verbally.
- Be aware of signs that children might be in distress, e.g. changes in behavior, anxiety, sleep problems, acting out, problems at school or with academic work.
The safety and emergency related issues confronting our school and community are serious. Thank you in advance for your cooperation as we continue to work together to ensure the safest environment for our students, staff, and community.