pfc newsletter O A K
P A R K
H I G H
October 2012
The Principal’s Message n October 18th, Oak Park High School will participate in California’s Great Shake Out, the Statewide Earthquake Drill. So, this month is a good time to review our school’s emergency preparedness, procedures and responses for the different types of emergency situations. The PFC is instrumental in our emergency preparedness and Disaster Preparedness Chair; Stacey Lindenau <staceylindenau@aol.com> heads the committee that monitors and replenishes the emergency supplies in the classrooms and in the disaster bins. Assistant Principal, Bryan Martin coordinates the school safety plan and heads the School Safety Committee.
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Q: What is the most important point that the parents should remember in an emergency situation? A: School is the second safest place for your child. The first place, and the place that we know your children want to be, is home. We ask parents to reinforce how important it is for students to follow the directives of the staff. The greatest threat to everyone’s safety after a disaster is the panic and irrational behavior of unprepared people. Parents should talk to their children, make a plan, and listen to emergency officials. Students, staff and parents should keep an emergency backpack in their car containing a change of clothes and essential safety supplies such as a first aid kit, a flashlight with spare batteries, and water. Q: What are the types of emergencies for which the high school develops plans? A: The three broad categories of emergencies that the high school prepares for are fire, lockdown and major disaster. Fire emergencies include brush or building fires on or near the campus, and explosions. Lockdown preparedness involves responding to a situation where a dangerous intruder is on campus or in the school vicinity; a major chemical spill on campus or in the area; and a bomb threat. A major disaster covers
S C H O O L www.oakparkusd.org/ophs emergencies such as earthquakes, plane crashes, and severe weather. Q: In the event of a fire on campus, how does the school respond? A: The fire alarms will sound. Students and staff evacuate the buildings and follow our fire drill plan. Specifically, students will move with their teachers to the football field using routes as indicated on each classroom evacuation map. Staff will then take roll and either wait for the fire department to arrive and give further direction, or allow students to return to class when the “all clear” signal is sounded. If the students and staff are unable to return to class, parents will be notified by the district’s automated all-call phone system and, if feasible, students will be sent home. Specific information will continue to be communicated through the district’s all-call phone system and through the district and/or high school web site. Q: What happens at the school in the event of a lockdown at the school? A: Lockdowns occur when we want students, staff, and campus guests to remain sheltered in a safe place. This may occur in a situation involving a weapon, gunfire, severe storm, or hazardous materials. When we need to lockdown our campus, a continuous bell will be sounded and the announcement, “This is a Lockdown” will be made to signal staff and students to stay inside, or if outside, to move inside the nearest available room. Administrators are assigned to zones and will “sweep” the campus to ensure everybody is inside a locked room. The initial purpose of a lockdown is to isolate an intruder and remove any potential target from view. We will take roll to account for all students and staff. In the case of a hazardous materials spill, teachers will seal windows and doors. The “all clear” will come in the form of a school employee going to each room and announcing that the condition has been identified and resolved. continued on page 8