I hope everyone had a wonderful break. It was relaxing. Holy Week was a stressful week for myself. On Palm Sunday as I sat in Bible Class, my best friend texted me and said they may be losing their baby, his wife was 22 weeks pregnant. So needless to say I spent my Sunday at the hospital with my best friend and family as we grieved the death of their daughter, my godchild. On Good Friday, we celebrated her life as I was asked to give a sermonette and graveside prayer. The funny side of that was the funeral director kept calling me "Pastor".
Since that was going on in my life, I didn't get to write a post about what happened the Thursday before with the non-emergency lock down.
I want to reassure you, we were in no danger that day. I made a decision to go into a non-emergency lock down just out of procedure. I felt it was the right thing to do at the time.
There are two main types of lock downs, non-emergency and full lock down. During a non-emergency lock down, the outside doors are locked and the classroom doors are locked. The teachers and students use precaution when in the hallways moving to the bathroom and/or drinking fountain. Teaches continue to teach their lessons.
A full lock down is the outside doors are locked, the classroom doors are locked, teachers and students are hiding in their rooms with the lights off and blinds shut. Desks may be blocking entrance to the doors. Students and teachers remain quiet letting no one in or out of their secured area. Teachers and Students won't be released until given permission by police and office staff.
For both lock down types, please refrain from coming to school. In a full lock down you will not be admitted unless under police approval. Even the office staff will be in a secured area not allowing anyone in or out except under police approval.
This next step may be the hardest part, but please do not call the office. I know you are worried, you want information, and you want to know that your children are safe. I understand it and I am there with you, but we need to keep the lines open to speak with police and call parents if needed. As we did with the non-emergency lock down, I will be in contact through Fast Direct or other methods. We will also send out a School Reach call, to inform you. All information will come from me or an appointed person. It is imperative, that if you receive a School Reach call to listen to it completely You may download the School Reach app on your smart phones to see the last School Reach message.
You will be hearing your students say we had a lock down drill, or if they are younger they may not realize it is a drill. By law we must perform two lock down drills a year.
