Emergency Procedures | Kiizhik Education Corporation

Emergency
Procedures

Safe and Secure Learning Lodges

Students, staff, and visitors have the right to learn, work, and be present in a safe and secure environment. The purpose of these procedures is to put in place a clear and effective plan in the event of a major incident or threat of school violence.
The administrative procedures provide general guidelines to respond to incidents or the threat of an incident. The principals shall ensure that specific school response lockdown procedures be developed and incorporated into the school emergency plans. All protocols strictly follow the Kiizhik Education Corporation’s policies and procedures from Policy 311: Crisis Response and Emergency Evacuations.

Three-Tiered Crisis Response Framework

Emergency Response Levels

The Kiizhik Education Corporation utilizes a clear, three-tiered response framework depending on the type and severity of the potential threat. This allows our staff to react quickly, accurately, and in full coordination with community emergency services.

Shelter in Place (Low-Level Response)

Environmental or Weather Threats

This response is initiated when a potential environmental or weather-related threat exists outside of the school building. Staff and students must remain inside the locked school for safety reasons.

Possible Causes:

- Extreme weather such as severe hailstorms, high-risk wind storms, or severe lightning.
- Environmental issues including forest fires, local gas leaks, or threatening wildlife nearby.
- Incidents involving emergency response close to the school, such as a localized traffic accident with serious injuries.
- A possible threatening situation in the surrounding area that has not yet been investigated or confirmed.
- Any other circumstance where the school principal needs to restrict outdoor movement to ensure student safety.

What Happens in the School:

- - Students who are outside are brought immediately into the building.
  - Exterior school doors are locked securely, and all windows are closed.
  - Classroom lights stay on and classroom doors are kept open.
  - Regular classroom instruction continues as normal, and students follow their daily rotation of classes.
  - Students may access washrooms with explicit teacher permission.
  - Teachers reassure students that there is no imminent threat to their safety while they remain inside the building.

Secure School (Medium-Level Response)

Potential Indoor or Outdoor Threat

This response is initiated when a potential threat exists either inside or outside of the building. Staff and students must remain inside their designated classrooms with the doors completely closed and locked.

Possible Causes:

- An emergency situation inside the school where people moving around the hallways might prevent authorities (police, fire, medical) from doing their jobs.
- A medical or tactical incident involving emergency response teams in the immediate vicinity of the campus.
- An intruder is suspected to be a possible threat to staff or student safety, but has not breached direct instruction areas.
- A possible medical situation that has not yet been investigated or confirmed.
- The active investigation of a potential bomb threat where an immediate evacuation is not safely required.

What Happens in the School:

- “Secure School” is announced over the public address system three times.
- All exterior school doors and windows are locked tightly, and all window blinds are completely closed.
- Classroom lights stay on, and classroom doors are immediately closed and locked securely.
- Teachers gather any nearby students from the hallways into their classrooms. No one (student or staff) may enter or leave the school without explicit permission from the Principal or a designated supervisor.
- Regular classroom instruction continues strictly inside the locked room, but students are not permitted to leave the classroom.
- Medical, biological, or washroom emergencies are addressed individually by teachers calling the main office for mobile assistance from available staff members.

Regular class changes stop; everyone remains in place until the code has been announced as officially lifted by the Principal.

Lockdown School (High-Level Response)

Imminent Danger or Direct Threat

This is the highest level of response to a severe threat. It is implemented only when danger is present on the school site and the immediate safety of all individuals is threatened.

Possible Causes:

- An intruder is suspected or confirmed to be an active threat to staff and student life or safety.
- Imminent tactical danger is present directly on the school property.
- Any other critical circumstance where the school principal must take immediate action to conceal and protect the school population.

What Happens in the School:

- Staff members call 911 immediately to alert law enforcement.
- Exterior school doors and windows are locked, classroom lights are turned off immediately, and classroom doors are locked and closed.
- Staff and students stay completely silent, out of sight from doors and windows, and hidden away in the safest area of the room.
- Students are strictly not permitted to leave the classroom under any circumstances.
- Once police response teams arrive on campus, they take full command of the school building and direct all further response movements.
- Once the school is safely released from Lockdown status by emergency officials, a Secure School procedure is temporarily put in place to manage the transition before the code is fully lifted.

What Parents Should do during an Emergency Protocol

When an emergency protocol is activated at a school, such as a Shelter in Place, Secure School, or Lockdown, a parent’s natural instinct is to protect their child immediately. However, emergency services and school boards emphasize that parents must follow strict protocols to keep their children and first responders safe.

Based on standard school safety guidelines and emergency management policies, here is exactly what a parent should do:

1. Do NOT Rush to the School

While it is the hardest rule to follow, parents are explicitly instructed not to drive to the campus.

Why? Parents arriving at the scene unintentionally block roads, entrances, and parking lots. This slows down police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances trying to get to the building.
During a Low-Level response (Shelter in Place) or Medium-Level response, all exterior doors are completely locked. No one will be permitted inside or out until emergency officials give an official all-clear.

2. Do NOT Call or Text the School or Your Child

Do Not Call the School Office: The phone lines must remain completely clear so administration can communicate directly with emergency responders and law enforcement.
Do Not Call/Text Your Child’s Cell Phone: During high-level emergencies (like a Lockdown), classrooms must remain entirely dark and completely silent. A cell phone suddenly ringing, buzzing, or lighting up can give away a student’s hidden location and put them in immediate danger.

3. Rely Only on Official Communication Channels

Do not rely on rumors circulating on social media. The school administration or the tribal council/education corporation will send out accurate, live updates directly to families.

Monitor the school’s broadcast networks (automated text alerts, phone blast systems, official emails, or official school websites/social pages).
Ensure your emergency contact card is kept up to date with the front office at the start of every school year so you receive these broadcast alerts.

4. Understand the Parent-Child Reunification Process

If an emergency requires the school to be evacuated or dismissed early, the school will initiate a controlled Reunification Protocol once it is safe to do so.

Go to the Designated Reunion Centre: This might be a separate local community centre, church, or gym, etc. away from the school grounds. The location will be broadcast to you via text or email once established.
Bring a Valid Government-Issued Photo ID: Even if school staff or teachers recognize you personally, you must present valid ID to the checkout desk.
Be Listed as a Guardian or Emergency Contact: Students will only be legally released to individuals explicitly documented on the student’s registration card.
Sign Out Personally: You must formally sign the release paperwork before leaving so that the school can maintain 100% accountability for every student on the roster.