A Message

Emergency Preparedness & Safety

In our Grand Rapids Area Schools, the safety of our students and staff is a top priority. We are committed to providing a secure and supportive environment where everyone can learn and grow with peace of mind.

To ensure that we are prepared for any situation, we have established safety teams within each of our schools, including specialized threat assessment teams, who work diligently to assess and address potential concerns. Additionally, we regularly conduct practice drills that are tailored to be age-appropriate, so that our students and staff are well-prepared and confident in responding to various situations.

ALICE Training

ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) is a set of proactive strategies that we use across our schools to enhance our preparedness for the unlikely event of an intruder. These strategies are adapted to be developmentally appropriate and to emphasize not only lockdown procedures but also the importance of evacuation when it is safe to do so.

• Primary Levels: For our youngest learners, the focus is on teaching them to recognize and report unusual activity to a teacher and to follow teacher directions quickly and quietly. We emphasize listening to the teacher’s instructions without introducing more complex components like Inform or Counter.

• Elementary Levels: We focus primarily on Alert and Lockdown, teaching younger students how to recognize unusual noises or events and securely lock down their classroom with the help of their teacher. Evacuation procedures are also discussed to ensure students know how to exit the building safely when directed by their teachers.

• Middle School Levels: At this level, we introduce the Inform component, where students learn how to safely communicate information about a threat. The focus remains on Alert, Lockdown, and Evacuate, guiding students on when it might be safe to leave the building, prioritizing safe and orderly evacuation routes.

• High School Levels: Students are taught all elements of ALICE, with a careful approach to Counter, where they learn about strategies to distract or navigate around a threat only as a last resort. High school students are given more detailed training on all options, including how to make informed decisions about evacuating when possible.

"I Love U Guys" Foundation Procedures

The “I Love U Guys” Foundation provides standardized response protocols for schools to handle reunification and emergency response. Their programs, which include the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and the Standard Reunification Method (SRM), offer clear directives and steps for emergencies, ensuring that all actions from lockdowns to reunifications are conducted smoothly and safely.

These efforts are part of a broader approach to maintaining a safe school community, and we work continuously to strengthen our protocols and keep our families informed. Your partnership in supporting these initiatives is invaluable, and together, we can help create a safe and nurturing environment for all.

Thank you for your ongoing support and trust.