No shooter lockdown drills in DD’s school

[Anonymous]

I recall our FCPS elementary school principal sending at some point this school year an email telling us that a lockdown drill was happening/had happened that week, and that they had to tell us bc of something related to action by the General Assembly.

[Anonymous]

This is the first email I received from my FCPS principal this year re: a lockdown drill. It was sent in September.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. We have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.

A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.

We will conduct a lockdown drill at our school soon. Our kindergarten students are exempt from mandatory participation in lockdown drills during the first 60 days of the school year. They will participate in our second and final drill later this school year.

Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.

Keeping our school safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe.

Regards,

Principal

[Anonymous]

PP again. Going through my emails from our FCPS ES principal this year, we have received four emails specifically about lockdown drills. The first one, which I posted above, then the below follow-up that was sent after the first lockdown. Then, another set of 2 emails before and after the second lockdown drill.

I am surprised that anyone who is an FCPS parent didn't receive a similar email from their principal.


Dear Parents and Guardians,

Every school in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan in place. Keeping students and staff safe is a priority. We practice a number of safety drills throughout the school year, including lockdown drills which helps us know what to do if there is a potentially violent intruder inside the school or on school property.

Today, our school conducted our first lockdown drill of the year. For this drill, we chose not to have students watch the lockdown drill video as our teachers shared important information and prepared the students for the drill.

I am very proud of our students today. They listened to directions and the drill was conducted in a calm and orderly fashion. Our students did a great job, and I encourage you to discuss the drill with them. Additional guidance on discussions with your child about lockdown drills can be found in the Parent/Guardian tip letter, as well as on the frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.

Our emergency preparedness plans have been developed in coordination with the FCPS Office of Safety and Security, local law enforcement, emergency management officials, and FCPS mental health professionals. The plans are regularly reviewed and updated and include procedures on how to respond to critical incidents such as fires, tornadoes, and other events. Students and staff regularly practice safety drills.

I will continue to keep you informed of safety and security measures in place at our school. If you have questions, please call or contact the school office. I appreciate your continued support in these matters.

Sincerely,

Principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is for your child to run if they can. But schools don’t want hundreds of kids running off campus so they can’t say that. I told my kids if they can run and hop the fence to do exactly that and I wouldn’t get mad if they get in trouble. I don’t want my kids to do active shooter drills because they are told to stay in a class where they are sitting ducks.

I completely agree with this and have told my kids to do the same!

[Anonymous]

First of all yes they did . They’re mandated. Maybe she was absent. Second of all, it doesn’t even matter. They’re not going to save lives. If you are in a school with an active shooter it comes down to luck. Did they go to your classroom or not. It’s a school, the shooter isn’t fooled by a locked door and lights off- they know kids are in the rooms. If they get in, you might die. If they choose a different room or floor or wing or target, you won’t. The drills are pointless.

-teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is for your child to run if they can. But schools don’t want hundreds of kids running off campus so they can’t say that. I told my kids if they can run and hop the fence to do exactly that and I wouldn’t get mad if they get in trouble. I don’t want my kids to do active shooter drills because they are told to stay in a class where they are sitting ducks.

I completely agree with this and have told my kids to do the same!

I’m a teacher and have told my students this. If we hear gunshots in another part of the school or we know we have a shot, we GO. Get out, scatter, run. The only time you should be sitting still in that room is if the shooter is trying to get in and you have no window to get out of in which case you are trapped and will have to fight and probably, realistically, die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are new to FCPS and DD reports they have not had a single lockdown drill at her school all year. Is this normal? I’m pissed.

How old is your child?
When did your child enter FCPS—at the start of the year, or later?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is for your child to run if they can. But schools don’t want hundreds of kids running off campus so they can’t say that. I told my kids if they can run and hop the fence to do exactly that and I wouldn’t get mad if they get in trouble. I don’t want my kids to do active shooter drills because they are told to stay in a class where they are sitting ducks.

I completely agree with this and have told my kids to do the same!

You should rethink this. Many of the Parkland shooting victims were killed in hallways and stairwells while trying to flee/hide. At Parkland, the classroom fatalities were in rooms that had no "hard corners" to hide in, but the kids were generally safer there than exposed in hallways and on campus.

[Anonymous]

^ also add, that students running, scattering, and dying at Columbine is a huge part of the reason we have classroom lockdowns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ also add, that students running, scattering, and dying at Columbine is a huge part of the reason we have classroom lockdowns.

Perhaps it’s a difference between HS and ES. My kids in ES have always had easy access to exits (classroom windows or rooms adjacent to doors to outside. Maybe it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ also add, that students running, scattering, and dying at Columbine is a huge part of the reason we have classroom lockdowns.

Perhaps it’s a difference between HS and ES. My kids in ES have always had easy access to exits (classroom windows or rooms adjacent to doors to outside. Maybe it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

I’m the teacher PP above and this is it exactly. You don’t ALWAYS run. It isn’t your best option in every instance. But neither is sitting and waiting. My class is 100 yards from a clear exit to a parking lot that backs up to a public park. If I know the shooter is upstairs in our building, I’m telling the kids to run and get out. Sitting doesn’t benefit them in that scenario. If he’s in the hallways outside my classroom we are obviously sitting and hoping he doesn’t choose our room because that’s our only option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is for your child to run if they can. But schools don’t want hundreds of kids running off campus so they can’t say that. I told my kids if they can run and hop the fence to do exactly that and I wouldn’t get mad if they get in trouble. I don’t want my kids to do active shooter drills because they are told to stay in a class where they are sitting ducks.

I completely agree with this and have told my kids to do the same!

You should rethink this. Many of the Parkland shooting victims were killed in hallways and stairwells while trying to flee/hide. At Parkland, the classroom fatalities were in rooms that had no "hard corners" to hide in, but the kids were generally safer there than exposed in hallways and on campus.

That’s because in a lockdown we have to lock the doors. We cannot open them. Kids who are out in bathrooms and halls if that happens are on their own. If kids are in the hallways with the shooters yeah, they might die in the hall. It doesn’t mean never attempt to run if you have an opening though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your daughter is mistaken (or was absent during the drills). All FCPS schools have at least two lockdown drills during every school year. If you want to know when these drills occurred, then you need to call your school's front office.

agreed. Front office can tell you when they happened. They happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are new to FCPS and DD reports they have not had a single lockdown drill at her school all year. Is this normal? I’m pissed.

What? I would be happy - its not going to help and will just instill fear in the child.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is for your child to run if they can. But schools don’t want hundreds of kids running off campus so they can’t say that. I told my kids if they can run and hop the fence to do exactly that and I wouldn’t get mad if they get in trouble. I don’t want my kids to do active shooter drills because they are told to stay in a class where they are sitting ducks.

Thank you. That is what my class will be doing. Turns out cops aren’t coming to the rescue, so screw procedure and cowering like a sitting duck in the corner of the classroom.