| IMPORTANT MUST READ!!!!!
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It is vital to us that ODCA provide a safe and secure learning environment for your child. With the events going on constantly in the world, we are taking seriously the need to have strategies in place that will provide such security. We have developed Lockout/lockdown procedures for the faculty and staff. During the month of December we will be participating in a Lockdown drill to be sure everyone will be familiar with how to respond. We will prepare the students for the drill and be sure they are fully informed that it is a practice drill. We will send parents a text alert message on the day we are doing the drill so you can be aware and respond to any questions your child may have at the end of the day. The following are some definitions of our security procedures:
General Security: All door are locked during the day. Visitors are let in with visual and verbal confirmation and must wear visitor identification.
Shelter in Place: This is called when something is going on in the school that we don't want to expose the students to. It could be an illness or emergency that requires the halls clear for emergency responders. Class activities will continue without interruption and classroom doors are not locked. (there will not be changing of classes in middle school)
Lockout: This is called when local authorities or school administration determine no one should enter or exit the school for any reason. (could be a dangerous situation in the neighborhood or a threat of someone to the school.) Classroom doors will remain unlocked and business can go on as usual but no one will be allowed to enter the building, including parents/guardians. Parents will be notified by message system that a lockout is under way and they will be notified when it is over. No parent/individual can enter the building during a lockout and no student will be released to their parents until the threat is resolved.
Lockdown: This is used in response to a threat in the school. All classroom doors are locked and students are positioned out of view of classroom window. All students must remain silent. Police are contacted and are in charge of all communication in a full Lockdown. Office phones will not be answered and we request you do not call your child's phone as it will create noise that may attract attention. Once it is over, the police will give us the go ahead to release the students and instructions will be given to parents for any response or pick up.
It is surely our prayer that we do not need to use any of these above actions but we need to be responsible to prepare, communicate and practice to keep our students as safe as possible. Please contact Meg McHale at mmchale@opendoorchristianacademy.com or call the school office if you have any questions about these procedures.
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