Emergency Release Drill October 17 @ 1:45 pm

School District No. 42 elementary schools will be participating in an Emergency Release Drill on October 17^th at 1:45 pm.  This important drill will help prepare our school community for the potential emergency evacuation of the school.  

This will likely be the very first time that any of our students or staff have been involved in an Emergency Release Drill and so we expect that we’ll learn ways to improve procedures for the future.  The following is the plan that we have in place:

1. At approximately 1:30 pm we will conduct an earthquake drill.  
2. Students will participate in the drill (just like they have done for earthquake drills in the past).  The drill ends with the students assembling outside (in their usual spots, with their classroom teacher).
3. Once teachers have taken attendance for their class and ensured that all students are in the correct spot, then I will announce that student pick-up procedure can begin (at approximately 1:45). 
4. We ask that parents wait on the South Side along fence.  This will allow us to complete the first part of the drill in an orderly and efficient manner.
5. Students can be picked up by their parents or a pre-approved designate.  Photo ID will be required before students can be picked up by those designates not recognized by teachers.  
6. Students who are not picked up will remain at school and will be dismissed at the usual time (2:20 pm).

We recognize that this drill is not particularly convenient for many of our families.  However, we do encourage you to participate, if at all possible.  Being as prepared as possible for emergency situations is in the best interest of all concerned.  The only way that we’ll be able to replicate an emergency evacuation and thus “work out the kinks” in advance, in a calmer manner, is to have full participation of students, parents, and staff.  We always want to do our best to maintain the safety of our students and such drills (though they may be inconvenient at the time) are actually vital to effective advance planning.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation as we begin to learn how best to conduct this new Emergency Release Drill.  

Thank you very much for your support.