Emergency Evacuation drills are held twelve times per year.  Students are to proceed with their teacher and leave by the designated exit. Everyone should walk quickly, quietly, and in an orderly manner.  Students are not to go to their lockers or leave the group to which they are assigned.

Once outside the building, all students should follow their teacher across the street and remain standing quietly with the teacher in the designated waiting area. Teachers should carry their roll book, take attendance to ensure no one has remained in the building, and display status cards (red/ green). Everyone should remain outside until an administrator gives a signal to enter the building.

Everyone must follow the special instructions given by the School Emergency Response Team (SERT) stationed throughout the school area.

School Emergency Response Team (SERT)

Marcus Lucas, Facilities Advisor, Coordinator, Maria Tukeva - Principal, Darry Strickland - Assistant Principal, Amanda Delabar- Assistant Principal, Desepe de Vargas –Assistant Principal, Dahlia Aguilar - Assistant Principal,  Roman Smith,  Assistant Principal, Tynika Young, Assistant Principal, Sandra Baker - Guidance Counselor, Carolyn Lindsay - Guidance Counselor, Chris Best- Head Custodian, Paula Crivelli –Social Worker,  Ana Maria Hakim - Social Worker, Alice Doctor - Secretary, Victor Molina - Parent Coordinator, Police Representatives, School MPD Officer,  Elsie Geffrard,] School Nurse,  Outreach Coordinator,  Daqriq Moorefield, Adrian Valdivia Pregnancy Prevention Counselor, Securitas Security Officers

Procedures for Personal Safety and Security in case of an Emergency

The bell or intercom system will be used to signal a state of emergency.  Office staff will ring the bells once an emergency situation has been declared and confirmed by the school principal or her designee.  The SERT will be the main source of communication.  SERT members or Security staff will communicate with classroom teachers on the floors when the intercom system cannot be utilize

Each classroom teacher is equipped with an accurate class roster and emergency numbers for each student in the class.  Each classroom teacher will be provided with current significant medical information of special needs students in their classroom.  Parent permission will be obtained to provide immediate medical treatment in the case of an emergency.

Each classroom will be equipped with plastic gloves and bandages, a small blanket, a clipboard and pencil to record any critical information, a building evacuation plan.

Evacuation and Shelter –in-Place

There are two basic responses to an emergency, Evacuation or Shelter-in-Place.  The type of emergency situation determines which response is chosen.  For example, in the case of a fire, Evacuation is always the response. In the case of a chemical Hazard, (Code Orange), the response might be Evacuation or Shelter in Place, depending on the location and type of hazard.

Procedures for Evacuation:  Follow the same procedures and route you would follow for a fire drill, unless you are told otherwise.

Procedures for Shelter in Place: 

In room - The teacher will close all windows and doors, and you must stay away from the windows and doors.  You may be asked to kneel down on the floor

Out of the room – You will go to a place on the first floor, which is away from all windows and doors, and will be asked to sit down quietly.

Codes and Bells

CODE RED

Code Red represents the highest level of danger, and will be signaled by the ringing of 4 bells.  Instructions will be given by the intercom system whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place.  Code Red means that law enforcement services will be engaged.

CODE BLUE

Code Blue means that there has been a bomb threat, and will be signaled by 3 bells.  Instructions on evacuation will be given by the intercom system.

CODE ORANGE

Code Orange means that there is a chemical or technological hazard, or severe weather conditions.  Code Orange is signaled by 2 bells.   Instructions on whether to evacuate or shelter in place will be given by intercom.

CODE GREEN

Code Green means that everything has returned to normal and is safe.

What Parents Should Do in the Case of an Emergency

In the event of an emergency during the time that students are in school, a phone message will be sent to parents by means of the Connect Ed system.  In a case in which students are sheltered in place at school, parents should not come up to the school until asked to do so, since students cannot be released until the Metropolitan Police Department gives the all clear.  Once the all clear is given, students can be signed out by their parents.  This will be conducted in an orderly manner, so it will require everyone’s cooperation.   To receive information from DCPS on emergency situations, you can watch DC Cable Channel 99, or log on to the DCPS website, www.k12.dc.us.

In the case of any emergency, crisis or death in the community, the Personal Growth Center will be available for grief counseling (individual and group).  Teachers are encouraged to refer students to this service.  Also, teachers will provide an opportunity for students to discuss the loss and the stages of grief that they may be going through either in class, with a counselor or with the Personal Growth Center.

Procedures for Inclement Weather

If there is bad weather, such as snow, the school system will make a decision about whether schools will open. You should listen to the radio (WAMU-88.5 FM, Radio America – 1540 AM (Español), or television channels 4, 5, 7 or 9, Univision (Español), or News channel 8 and DC Cable Channel 28. You can also go on the internet to the DCPS website, www.k12.dc.us.

The following are the Codes:

Code Red – Schools Closed

Code Yellow – Schools Closed

Code Green- Schools open two hours late

Code Blue – Schools open on time

Please be sure to check!