Preparing for Emergencies—What’s New? Posted On August 28, 2025

[Anonymous]

Hold: To be used to keep hallways clear during instances, such as a medical emergency or a hazard in a hallway, while classroom activities continue normally.

Secure: To be used during external threats, such as police activity near the school. Students and staff are brought inside the building and external doors are locked, while normal activities continue inside the school building.

Shelter will now apply to only environmental hazards, such as extreme weather. Appropriate safety strategies will be used depending on the hazard.


What remains the same? Lockdown & Evacuate

Lockdown – Locks, lights, out of sight.
Used when there is an immediate threat inside or very near the building. Staff and students will be instructed to lock classroom doors, turn out the lights, stay quiet and out of sight, and not to open doors.

Evacuate – Guide students and staff out of the building to an evacuation area.
Used when it is safer outside of the school building than inside (e.g., fire, gas leak, unsafe structure).
Follow evacuation routes.