Emergency Preparedness

What can I expect during an emergency?

The safety of our students is of paramount importance at Oakwood.

Full cooperation will be needed from parents and guardians in the event of an emergency. It is understandable that you will be very concerned and anxious for the well-being of your child(ren), but it is extremely important for parents to give us the time to do the job that we have been trained to do. The staff and emergency personnel need to concentrate all efforts on the safety of the children. 

Each classroom, and room of the school that functions as a classroom has a designated area for a fire extinguisher, first aid equipment, evacuation/drill maps, and the Oakwood Emergency Response Plan. This plan contains a detailed account of emergency response procedures for the safekeeping of your student during every conceivable disaster. Throughout the school year, all students and staff participate in disaster drills, so the students are thoroughly familiar with the procedures involved. Emergency equiptment and supplies are reviewed and replenished annually.

Teachers and administrative staff have been trained and are current in CPR and FIRST AID. The Oakwood staff has completed comprehensive training in FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, LOCKDOWN, and RUN, HIDE, DEFEND procedures.

Every location on campus has a walkie-talkie to facilitate communications in case of disaster. Preschool – 8th grade students bring emergency packs to school the first week of school with food, water, and other supplies in case they need provisions during an emergency. The school also has a supply of food and water for emergency purposes, as well as centrally located automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

If an emergency occurs at our school, parents are asked to follow the procedures listed at Oakwood Emergency Preparedness. These procedures were developed to execute emergency response, facilitate parent-student reunification, and to aid with traffic flow in front of the school. It is imperative to keep our entrances clear of parked cars to facilitate emergency equipment access. 

We are capable of caring for your child(ren) for at least 72 hours if necessary. Take care of yourself so that you can be safely reunited with your child(ren) in an orderly manner. Please see the Oakwood website portal for a complete listing of specific emergency procedures.

Remote Learning

In the event of an emergency, Oakwood may be required to cease or change all or part of the school’s operations. An emergency includes, but is not limited to, any fire, flood, act of God (earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, hurricane, tornado, lightning, etc.), governmental action, or acts or threats of the following: terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, viral outbreak, war, revolution, natural disaster, riot, strike, lockdown, or any event beyond the school’s reasonable control, or that makes performance inadvisable, impracticable, illegal, or impossible in the school’s sole determination.

If an emergency occurs, Oakwood has the sole discretion to activate an emergency plan that calls for a remote learning program. Oakwood may, in its sole discretion and without notice: (1) extend, condense, or otherwise modify the school year; (2) change the facilities in which the school’s educational program, including classes, programs, activities and events (“Program”) are held; (3) change the manner and format in which the school conducts its Program, including but not limited to having students meet through Zoom, learning packets, and engaging in other on-line learning formats; or (4) postpone or cease all or part of its operations and its duties, obligations, and performance. No portion of any tuition, fees or other payments made by parents or that are outstanding will be forgiven or refunded if the school’s operations cease or are postponed, suspended, or modified because of an emergency.