Dear Memorial School Families,
Next week, Memorial School staff and students will participate in a schoolwide safety drill; it will be the first drill for students since May of 2019 using the ALICE system. The purpose of the drill will be to familiarize staff and students with one of the basic procedures of this plan (evacuate), and empower our Memorial School community to make the right decision on what to do to stay safe in the event of an emergency. We expect these drills to happen with more frequency moving forward to help build confidence for students and staff in the new ALICE safety model.
For those unfamiliar with the ALICE safety model, here is a brief introduction:
ALICE is a federally endorsed safety protocol. The letters ALICE stand for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate:
- Alert – inform people of the threat, giving as much information as possible.
- Lockdown – Students and staff can choose to lockdown and barricade the room that they are in if they determine that it is not safe to evacuate.
- Inform – pass on as much information as possible to others and to First Responders, including calling 911.
- Counter – an effort of last resort, if an armed intruder is able to get into the space they are in, individuals can counter with distraction or other tactics. Staff are being trained to use every effort to stop the intruder, instead of relying on the traditional lockdown and hide response.
- Evacuate – If it is safe to do so, all are encouraged to evacuate the building, and remove themselves from the threat.
On Monday/Tuesday, October 25th or 26th, teachers will take some time to speak with students about the ALICE model, with an emphasis on listening to their teacher and understanding that in the ALICE model, there are multiple options for staff and students based on the information available.
On Wednesday, October 27th, we will hold our ALICE safety drill with students. Students will know ahead of time that this drill will occur and we have invited the Newton Police Department to observe the drill and support our school community. Following the drill, students will have a chance to debrief with their teachers. Based on the feedback of staff, students, and the Newton Police Department we will work to continue to improve our emergency response plans in the future.
Thank you all for your cooperation, your patience, and your understanding with this work.
