Emergency Response Procedures - Information for Parents and Guardians
Providing a Catholic-infused Education is one of the many vital roles that Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) plays in our communities; another is keeping students safe. As we know, the unexpected can happen at any moment.
Student safety is an integral part of our operations, as creating a safe and caring environment is a vital prerequisite to learning. Should an emergency occur, our priority will be the safety and security of our students and staff.
EICS has a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan that outlines steps schools will take to handle a wide range of emergency situations that may affect our school communities. This Emergency Response Plan is tailor-made to suit the distinctive needs and resources of each of our schools, while seamlessly integrating with local emergency responders.
All EICS schools have an on-site emergency response team composed of school staff. Throughout the year, EICS schools conduct training and practice emergency drills and procedures. These exercises not only prepare our students and staff to respond promptly and appropriately but also serve to alleviate anxiety among our students in the event of a real emergency.
Our EICS central emergency response team is available to offer support to schools when emergencies arise. While the precise actions taken during an emergency will naturally depend on the nature of the incident, our primary goal is safeguarding the welfare of our students and staff.
EICS works with local and provincial emergency responders to ensure our plans are coordinated with the appropriate agencies. Our emergency response plans do not replace the authority of first responders, as they are specially trained to handle emergencies and extenuating circumstances.
In the event of an emergency, our school staff will work in full cooperation with these agencies and follow their advice – and EICS calls upon the parents and guardians of our students to do the same.
There may be a strong desire to call the school or your child’s cell phone for an immediate update. Please refrain from doing so in the event of an emergency. The school phone lines and personnel need to be available to address the situation, and calling your child’s cell phone could draw their attention away from the situation at hand. Likewise, do not arrive at the school during an emergency as your presence can complicate emergency responses.
Rest assured that we will communicate with parents as soon as possible and will also provide additional information regarding when and where your child can be picked up.
We encourage you to review key phrases and protocols that your child will learn at school during emergency response practice drills. In the event of an emergency, we will communicate with you as expeditiously as possible. However, our priority will be the safety and security of students and staff.
Thank you for your support and assistance.
Critical Response Procedures
Keeping Safe
When a school has an emergency situation, there are several courses of action that may be taken, depending upon the specific details of the situation. A school may choose to take any or all of the following actions: