Lock Down - In Schools

gr33n3y3z wrote: Do your schools practice drills or do your kids know what to do during a lock down?

Our school has no lock down drills but I will bring this up on Monday
But Erins school has the drill 2x a year and the kids know what to do just incase.

canddsmom8 replied: So far this year, Chelsea's school hasn't had any lock downs.

kimberley replied: hmm i have no idea. i know they do fire drills but not lock down

mckayleesmom replied: What is a lock down?? Sorry...I have never heard of it before.

gr33n3y3z replied: Its when if something goes wrong emergency wise outside or inside of school the school goes in lock down example student shooting or someone off the street goes into school to hurt kids. They may all have assigned rooms as to where to go etc.

booey2 replied: This is something new that there are doing here in Toronto too. I don't think they had a drill yet but it will be happening sometime soon I bet.

C&K*s Mommie replied: what if the rooms are open and only separated by partitions, would that still be considered a lockdown in the classroom??

Alice replied: What they do is have all the kids go to a place in the building as far from windows as possible... somtimes it's the hallway or the gym, sometimes the far side of the classroom. From there it's kind of like the old air raid drills I think. And the doors to the building are all locked; no one goes in or out during the duration of the drill. It's practice in the event of another terrorism attack or a shooting... some type of emergency like that. In the event of a real crisis, they would not release any of the kids... to anyone.. for the duration of the lockdown.

We're 45 minutes from Ground Zero, so, yes, my kids' school does it. My daughter's Nursery School even does it. In fact, 2 or three years ago, we had to bring in a blanket and change of clothes to have on hand for the kids (Nursery school stocked up on water and dry snacks)... just in case.

booey2 replied: I found this info at pulse24.com abouth what they do here for school lockdowns and different procedures:

The shooting outside a Brampton high school has left students and teachers shaken and many parents upset.

But according to the various Boards across the G.T.A., it was actually a textbook case of being ready for the worst and reacting successfully.

So just what does happen when a rare lockdown is called in your kid’s school?

There are several scenarios, depending on where the danger lurks – it can be inside the school itself, outside in the immediate area or in the approximate neighbourhood.

The policy is relatively the same at all the boards. Here’s a look at the protocol.

Level 1: Danger Inside School



The principal or someone in authority makes the announcement of a lockdown over the P.A. system
Three sets of bells ring inside and outside the building.
All students and teachers are required to remain on the floor unless they hear otherwise. In some cases, they can stay at their desks.
Windows are closed, but the curtains stay open and the lights stay on, so cops and emergency officials can see inside each room.
Those in the hallways are required to immediately head to the closest room and lock the door.
Students on the outside of the school are supposed to head away from the building and meet at a pre-arranged evacuation point.
If necessary, parents will be called, but only after the emergency is over.


Level 2: Danger Outside School

Most of the procedures are the same, except the lights are turned off and the blinds and drapes are closed, and school doors are locked.

Level 3: Danger in the Neighbourhood

This scenario involves slightly less serious precautions, because the threat is farther away. It involves increased supervision, locking the outside doors and controlling the movement of students inside the building.

Lockdown Check List

Here’s some of what the Toronto Catholic District School Board instructs teachers to do when a lockdown is called:

Lock all classroom doors.
Lock all exterior doors.
Keep one telephone line open so that Police, Board office can contact the school.
Take attendance in each room. Note those who are absent and notify the office immediately.
Keep everyone facing away from the glass and doors where possible.
Pull shades or drapes and turn off lights if appropriate. Ensure that you can communicate visually with police if necessary.
Release no one except by the direction of the principal or designate or the police.
Do not release students or staff for restrooms or lockers.
Do not use radio, TV, or cell phones in classrooms.
Everyone should lie on the floor if gunshots are heard.
Call the school office with vital information. (e.g. I see a person in the NW Hallway etc.)
Only open the doors when an “all clear” or “Release code” is given.
Have a consistent message for parents who are calling the school during the lockdown.
Call other schools in immediate vicinity, which may be affected by the circumstances that created the need for the lockdown

My3LilMonkeys replied: They recently did this for the first time in my nephew's school. My SIL was telling me one interesting thing they do here is to have a policeman come in and take 2-3 kids as they are moving to their designated locations (hopefully without the teachers noticing). This was they can test how quickly the teacher's reaction time is if a student really were to be kidnapped or something.

C&K*s Mommie replied: It sounds terrifying just by reading this. I could not imagine what nightmares, and ramifications this would have on a child, if the threat was not just a drill.

gr33n3y3z replied:
just as long as the door can be locked and no one can enter the room then yes it is fine