School Emergency Procedures

Emergency Drills Overview

The safety and welfare of young people are viewed as an important responsibility of teachers and administrators at all times.  Moreover, during a state of emergency or crisis, the safety of students and staff is the primary priority.  

With this in mind, it is important that each school staff member know his or her responsibilities and duties in the event of an emergency.  Also, it is critical that they be fully aware and apprised of the various emergency and safety procedures in place on the school campus.

All Miramonte Staff will:

1. Know that the safest place for children in an emergency is in school itself.
2. Know their primary role in an emergency is to care for the safety and welfare of the children.
3. Make every effort to use appropriate procedures during an emergency and will provide instructions and guidance to pupils.
4. Keep students in the school environment until they can reunite with their families.
5. Instruct students in the following emergency procedures:
    a. Fire
    b. Earthquake
    c. Air Pollution Alert
    d. Immediate Situation
    e. Clear the Yard
    f. Take Cover

Emergency Bell System:

Fire:  A continuous short, repeating bell pattern.  Evacuate to the yard.

Earthquake:  No bell, response to earthquake.  Assume Drop-Cover-Hold position.  Wait for fire drill bell or instructions from the main office before evacuating to the yard.

Immediate Situation:  An all-call "RED ALERT."  Return to rooms, move away from windows, lock-down.  In the event of gunfire, immediately drop to the ground and remain prone.  Assess the situation to determine if the immediate area is clear of danger in order to move to a more secure location.

Take Cover:  A continuous long and short bell for 2 minutes.  remain in the classroom, drop/cover, move away from windows.  

Clear the Yard:  A continuous bell for 2 minutes.  All Children on the yard return to the classroom.  In the event of gunfire, immediately drop to the ground and remain prone.  Assess the situation to determine if the immediate area is clear of danger in order to move to a more secure location.  

Fire Emergency Procedures:

We have a fire drill once a month, per state law.  Upon hearing the fire drill signal (continuous short, repeating bell pattern:. please line your students up, take the Emergency Bag, and walk quickly, quietly, and orderly to the upper playground area.  

An administrator will be on the yard to direct the traffic flow and provide further instructions and directions a needed.  Once your class is assembled, take roll, fill out the Status Report, and send it over to the administrator.  It is essential that every child is accounted for, and that no one remains, in the buildings.  Once all reports are received, the continuos All Clear bell will sound, signaling that is is okay to return to your room.

Administrators, coordinators, and resource specialists have the following supervision areas for fire drills.

Principal-Main Office
Assistant Principal 1-Main Building
Assistant Principal 2- Upper Yard
Assistant Principal 3- Kindergarten Yard/Auditorium

Programs Coordinator-Main Building Upstairs
Bilingual Coordinator-Parking Lot Gate/Basketball Courts
Literacy Specialists- Buildings B and C (Upstairs)
Speech Therapist-Buildings B and C (Downstairs)
Technology Specialist- Status Report Collection
Psychologist-Lower Yards/ Bungalows

Earthquake Procedures:

There is no school-wide signal.  The drop command is given by the teacher in charge.  Please review the following procedures with your children.

Drop/Hold Procedures inside the classroom
1. Upon command, drop down to knees
2. Get under/below equipment (desk, table, chair, etc.)
3. Grasp equipment with one hand and place the other hand over the back of the neck.
4. Keep body covered under the equipment
5. Wait for further instructions

Drop/Hold procedures outside the classroom:

1. Get clear of all buildings, power lines, light poles etc.
2. Drop to knees, bend forward and cover the neck with one hand.
3.  Stay in the clear and wait for further instruction.

Drop/Hold Procedures to and from school:

1. Move away from all buildings, trees, and structures.
2. Assume Drop/Hold position if possible.

After the shaking has ceased, it is important that all students and teachers listen carefully for instructions over the intercom.  After a severe incident, if an intercom message is not given, it is the discretion of the teacher as to the safest plan of action.  In most instances, everyone should be evacuated and walked to the playground or a clear and safe area.

Air Pollution Procedures:

When air pollution has reached a level necessitating the restriction of physical activities during the school day, the warnings and all clear announcements will be transmitted to the affected schools by the regional office.

The following actions will be instituted at the schools according to the severity of the episode:

Stage 1 Episode (Unhealthful)

    1. All appropriate staff (nurse, psychomotor coordinator, youth services coordinator) are notified;
    2. Limited outdoor activity - vigorous and strenuous running and exercise are prohibited (PE classes cancelled)

Stage 2 Episode ( Very Unhealthful)

    1. Continue all measures as in Stage 1.
    2. Limit outdoor exposure- walking recess only, lunch observed as rainy day procedures.

Stage 3 Episode (Hazardous)

    1. Continue all measures taken in Stages 1 and 2.
    2. Eliminate outdoor exposure.
    3. Region Superintendent will advise schools of further precautions to be taken - shortening of the school day or school closure.

Immediate Situation Procedures:

In the event of an Immediate Situation (Intruder on campus, disturbance, security threat, etc.) an all call "RED ALERT will be given to all classrooms.  The signal for students and teachers on the yard will be the "Clear the Yard" bell (continuous for two minutes)   Upon hearing the alert or bell, please do the following:

    1. All students, teachers, and assistants that are already situated in a room should remain there.
    2. Any student or individual outside of a room, either in the hallway or outside, but near a building, should enter the closest classroom.
    3. Immediately close and lock all doors and windows.  Look for any students stranded in the hallway and bring them into your room.
    4. Lower and close blinds.  Move away from the windows.
    5. Take attendance and account for all students.
    6. Notify the main office of any missing students and their known whereabouts.
    7. Listen for further instructions on the intercom.

In the event of gunfire, immediately drop to the ground and remain prone.  Assess the situation to determine if the immediate area is clear of danger in order to move to a more secure location.

Clear the Yard:

In the event of hearing the signal to clear the yard (a two-minute long bell), teachers are to immediately go to their rooms and direct students into them.  Supervisory personnel will go to the yard to assist in clearing the yard.  Students are to go promptly to their classrooms.  Once students are in the room, all doors are to be locked and should remain so until further notification from the office.  No one is to leave the room until the "ALL Clear" signal is given.  

In the event of gunfire, immediately drop to the ground and remain prone.  Assess the situation to determine if the immediate area is clear of danger in order to move to a more secure location.

Take Cover Procedures:

The purpose of take cover drills is to maximize pupil and staff safety in the event of a civil defense alert or other such emergency.  

The signal shall be a continuous long and short ringing of the bell for two minutes.  

When the signal sounds, please do the following:

    1. Line the students along the wall, opposite from the windows.
    2. Assume the drop/cover position.
    3. Close all doors and windows.
    4. Doorways are to remain clear.
    5. Listen quietly for further instructions from the main office.

Note:  Students and staff in the computer room, library, cafeteria, main and registration offices, auditorium, or other common area should remain there and listen for further instructions from the main office.



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