Safety Drills
Sandy Elementary is required by state law to conduct 10 emergency drills each year to help keep our students and staff safe. These drills may include: Fire Drills, Earthquake Drills, Shelter-In-Place Drills and Lockdown Drills. If you have any questions about our emergency procedures please contact school administration.
Guidelines for parents to follow in case of a school emergency
Sandy Elementary is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff, parents and visitors. We work closely with district and local safety officials – police, fire, emergency medical services, and public health – in order to ensure our school is well prepared for an emergency. We have developed procedures that serve as a guide to help staff and our public safety partners respond swiftly should a crisis occur at our school.
As a parent, how can you prepare for a school emergency?
Provide accurate emergency contact information (including email) to office and notify the school if this information changes.
Tuning in to local television and radio stations for news alerts. During an emergency, we can anticipate that phone lines into the affected school(s) may be blocked. In order not to interfere with emergency responders, we ask that parents wait to receive important information from school officials before going to the school or scene of an emergency. You can be confident that accurate and timely information will be released to parents, the public, and the media during any emergency incident via the Canyons District Communications Department.
What is Lockdown and Shelter in place and how will I know if a school is in a Lockdown or Shelter in place?
“Lockdown” is a common school security practice used to secure a building. It will be implemented in the event of a campus emergency or crisis that requires students and staff to seek safety within the building. During this type of emergency, the safest place for students is locked securely in their classrooms inside the school building. All outside doors and all classroom doors will be locked if the school is in Lockdown. During a Lockdown, no one except uniformed law enforcement will be allowed to enter the building. This means that parents will not be admitted and students will not be released to parents while the school is under Lockdown. No one will leave the building unless under the direction of emergency responders or until after local authorities give the all clear.
As the situation demands, the school may be put under a “Shelter-in-Place” order. This procedure is used in the event that a threat is possible, but not imminent. All outside doors will be locked if the school is in Shelter-in-Place. Classes and movement within the school will carry on as usual with the exception that no students or staff will be permitted to leave the building. As in a Lockdown, no one except uniformed law enforcement will be allowed to enter the building. This means that parents will not be admitted and students will not be released to parents while the school is under a Shelter-in-Place.
What will my child experience during a Lockdown or Shelter-in-Place?
A Lockdown or Shelter-in-Place begins with an announcement instructing all students to either remain in the building and/or remain in the room that they are in or immediately enter the nearest classroom which is manned by a staff member. During a Lockdown, students remain in their locked classrooms while authorities secure the school. During a Shelter-in-Place, students carry on activities inside the school while all students and staff are required to stay inside the building. When authorities are confident the building is secure, an all‐clear announcement will be made.
If the school is evacuated, how will I be able to locate my child?
Evacuation procedures are implemented during an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake or other disaster, when it is determined that students and staff will be safer outside the building or at a location away from the campus. If at all safe and possible, we will assemble the students on the field north of the school. Teachers and staff will take accountability and assess any causality in preparation to provide information and turn over operations to local authorities.
Parents or guardians will be notified through the automated School Messenger system (Skylert). They will be directed to a specific location where they will be required to show proper identification. Remember, a student can only be released to a parent/guardian or an adult who is documented as an emergency contact. If you are a non‐custodial parent, you must be listed in your child’s emergency contact information as a guardian and you must show proper identification. At that time, we will require you to sign an emergency release to document that your child was discharged to your custody.
Sandy Elementary is prepared for an emergency.
As a parent, you should feel confident in knowing that we provide, on an annual basis, emergency response training to all school personnel. We have identified staff members with assigned roles and responsibilities to perform during an emergency. We conduct emergency drills throughout the school year, so that students and staff are aware of the most effective and safe emergency responses.
If you see something, say something
Ensuring school safety is everyone’s responsibility – staff, students, parents and the entire community. Please report any safety concerns you may have to your school principal.
