Emergency Preparedness

Should an emergency or disaster situation occur, all students will be cared for as long as it takes for parents to arrive. Please be aware of the following:

• All staff have been assigned roles that they will assume in the case of an emergency.
• Students and parents should follow the directions of school personnel. Your full cooperation is necessary!
• The school will make it a high priority to email or text parents regarding emergencies. Please do not call the school for additional information. Unexpected emergencies take time. As the event progresses, the school will communicate information as the school is able. In an emergency, the school telephone lines may be busy, not working or may be needed for emergency communication. Because local telephone service may be disrupted, families may wish to list an out-of-state contact with the school, as calls may still be made out of the area while incoming calls are affected.
• Do not rush to the school. Allow the school the time it needs to implement emergency procedures. In the event of a lockdown, DO NOT enter the campus. We will communicate pickup procedures. In the event of a serious emergency, students will remain at school until they are picked up by an authorized, responsible adult.
• Fortunately, under most circumstances, the school’s everyday carpool process will work very well for reuniting students and parent. Only people listed on your approved pick-up list will be allowed to pick up your child(ren).
• Be patient and understanding with the student release process. Depending on the situation, students may stay in the evacuation area for safety and it may take some time to escort them to the pick-up location. This separation is by design. It is essential that in a situation fraught with heightened tension that practiced protocol be followed calmly and methodically. Not only will pick-up be more effective, but students will be comforted by the familiarity of the process, as well. For high school students who drive themselves to school, the school will evaluate the circumstances to determine if driving students will be permitted to leave without parent consent.
• Once you have possession of your child(ren), please leave immediately.

If the school's internet and communication systems are functioning and accessible, the school will continue to communicate primarily via email and/or text to parents who have provided current email and cell phone numbers (in Veracross). It is important that families keep their contact information up to date so that they receive important information in case of emergency.

In some circumstances, community authorities may take charge of the campus and also control information flow. Parents may want to seek out and subscribe to communication channels from Morgan Hill Police Department, Morgan Hill Fire Department, CAL FIRE, and California Highway Patrol.

Check social media to get updated information.

You can also register for the Santa Clara Country Emergency Alert System

Please see the school's detailed plans above for emergency procedures with students.

Short Term

• If we need to evacuate our campus for any reason, a written notice of our evacuation location will be posted at the 105 John Wilson Way entrance. When our campus is secure and safe, the students may return to our campus.
• Reuniting parents/students will be done in the same manner used on a daily basis.

Long Term

• The Police Department will direct us to our assigned evacuation/relocation point. An employee or a police officer will remain at school, if possible, to relay information to parents or a written notification will be posted at the main entrance.
• Directions will be given as to where you should go to reunite with your child(ren).
• Be patient. You may be required to show identification.
• Once you have taken custody of your child(ren), leave immediately.

In a major earthquake, students may remain on campus or may be evacuated to an assigned safe area.

• If the fire is contained to a specific location either on campus or near our campus, the students may be kept on campus in pre-designated safe areas.
• Students will return to class as directed by the fire department.
• If the fire is a threat to our students, we will immediately evacuate our campus and go to an assigned safe area.

• All school personnel are trained in lockdown procedures. They will ensure that all students are held in a safe location. Our goal is the safe care and accountability of all of our students.
• In a lockdown we may not be able to answer incoming phone calls or make outside calls.
• Parents should not come to the school campus during a lockdown incident. School gates and classrooms may be locked, and you will not be able to gain access to our campus.
• All students and faculty/staff will remain in the lockdown mode until the police department lifts the lockdown. In some cases students may need to leave campus.
• When the lockdown is lifted, a communication will be sent to parents, and at that time parents will be permitted to pick up their child(ren).