Emergency Response

The Skaggs Catholic Center Emergency Response Team, in collaboration with the administration, faculty and staff, oversees general emergency and specific crisis procedure plans, and conducts drills in compliance with the Diocesan guidelines. The Skaggs Catholic Center models its Emergency Response Team structure and protocols after the FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) - IS-100.SCa Introduction to the Incident Command System for  Schools. This ensures rapid and systematic response consistent with national, state, and local emergency responders and hospitals. Specific procedures for emergency situations include, but are not limited to:

● Evacuation - for fire or other indoor hazard, and secondary evacuation protocols

● Shelter-in-place - for earthquake, severe weather or other external hazard

● Lock-Down  - for internal or external intruder or threat

● Missing child - Amber Alert

● Assault, injury and/or death of a student or employee

● Health hazards – epidemics, biohazards, health risks (i.e.: severe allergies, seizures)

In the event of an emergency, parents may be notified via email, auto-call to the contact number listed in PowerSchool, or the school’s social media sites. Parents are advised to register their cell phone numbers with the Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) at http://vecc9-1-1.com/ for reverse 911 and amber alerts.

Accidents

Every accident in the school building, on school grounds, at practice sessions, or at any athletic or social event sponsored by the school must be reported immediately to the person in charge and to Student Services. The teacher, coach, or moderator in charge must complete an Accident Report Form, obtainable from Student Services, and the form must be submitted to the Principal.

Evacuations & Fire/Disaster Drill

When the evacuation alarm sounds or students are notified via the PA, students are to proceed immediately to the nearest exit (but not into the center circle). Everyone exits the school building and proceeds onto the school grounds outside of the outer ring road. Students must remain quiet, report to their teacher or nearest staff/faculty for roll, and return to class as quickly as possible when the signal is given to return to school. If the building is determined to be unsafe, students will be directed to a secondary evacuation site. Parents will receive an email and/or auto phone message informing parents of a pick-up site.

A false alarm is a serious infraction. Any student who causes a false alarm purposefully or by accident will be suspended from school immediately. The school will determine further disciplinary action. Emergency drills will take place throughout the year. Students will be assigned to an evacuation location prior to the first drill.

Lock Down Protocol

At some time it may be necessary to place the campus in a “lockdown” situation. It is extremely important for all students to know the lock down code signal and to react swiftly and appropriately to this signal. The signal code, which will be broadcast over the public address system, will be: "Initiate lockdown procedures immediately. This is not a drill.” This signal will be repeated at least once after the initial signal.

Upon hearing this signal, students are directed to move immediately to the nearest safe area and remain there until receiving further instructions from the school's incident commander, police, or other emergency services personnel. While in the safe areas, students will remain silent. Safe areas include any room or area in the building where students are out of sight, preferably behind a locked door. All lights are to be turned out and all window coverings are to be drawn.

School Closings

The Principals of the three schools at the Skaggs Catholic Center, Juan Diego, Saint John the Baptist Middle School, and Saint John the Baptist Elementary School, will confer to determine if the school(s) should be closed based upon Diocesan policy and directives. Should the schools be closed because of weather or other unforeseen events, information will be posted on the school website, and parents will be alerted via outgoing phone alert, eblast, and social media. Area TV (KSL, KUTV, KTVX) and radio stations (KALL, KDYL) will also be alerted to the closure.

Parents should always evaluate road and travel conditions on severe weather days to determine the safety of transporting students. If travel conditions near the home are too severe, they should use parental discretion to not send their student(s) to school.