Finally, as I'm sure you're aware, our school staff and students regularly practice emergency evacuations in cases of fire, earthquake, and or safety lockdowns. We've already held a successful all-school fire drill, and today (weather dependent) we're planning on holding an all-school earthquake drill. Ask your child how it went, and what his/her duties were in proper behavior and actions to take from the start of the drill to its finish.

As for parents' duties, did you realize you have some too?! Should there be an actual earthquake, fire, or lockdown while school is in session, parents are not to telephone school. We will try to send out an emergency email and/or text as soon as possible, but our first priority is to attend to your children. Parents  are also not to attempt to enter a school building during an emergency. If you're able to arrive at school after an earthquake, parents should enter at the 156th Avenue entrance and proceed to the Student Pickup/Reunification Area - which will be set up in the south parking lot. The faculty member in charge of this area will direct parents to where you may wait to pick up your children. As you can imagine, we need everyone's cooperation for an orderly and systematic release of students to either their parents or to the adults listed on their emergency forms who have permission to take them home.

The school has water, food, and other supplies stored for use in emergencies when students have to remain overnight at school. Let's hope we never have to use them, but it's good to be prepared. Speaking of prepared, does your family have these plans in place? If not, you might want to set them up ASAP.

If you would like to be a part of our Emergency Preparedness Committee, helping us continually evaluate and update St. Louise's plans and supplies for emergencies such as earthquakes or lockdowns, please contact fellow parent  Joe Dickinson, the coordinate of the committee.