We are busy here getting ready for today’s Emergency Student Release Drill. This drill will assist us in planning for emergencies, and in supporting the safe release of all 487 students if the event of a significant emergency.

I would like to thank all parents in advance for their support and patience during this drill.

I am curious how some people will react to the drill. Will some parents be upset that we are making them come pick up their child early? Will some families be surprised that we do not have their forms? Will some children be stressed out because their parents wont’ be here right at 1:00 pm?

I suspect the answer to all the above questions will be yes. Some people will be upset. Some families will be surprised, and some children will be stressed out.

If your are upset about the drill, I ask that you be calm while you are here, and reflect on why this drill is so important for a community. We have planned this to ensure that we keep all children (and adults) safe and accounted for in the event of an emergency. The last thing we need in an emergency is to not know where a child is, so we plan for an orderly, systematic release of all our students.

“Chance favours the prepared mind.” ~ Louis Pasteur

We have approximately 50 students for whom we do not have a student release form returned to our office. I am disappointed to see so many missing forms. All families have an obligation to the school, and returning emergency forms is one of those obligations. Perhaps they are in your child’s backpack. Maybe they are in your child’s classroom. Or maybe they are still somewhere at home. If you have not yet returned you form, please make this a priority.

There may be some children who are stressed out during this drill. We have had tears during fire drills and earthquake drills. Teachers and staff will be with children at all times, and will be helping them to understand that these drills are to help us be safe, and should not be the cause of worry.

“Remember, when disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed.” ~ Steven Cyros

We have received an incredible amount of support from the Cleveland PAC and the Emergency Preparedness Committee. Some Emergency Preparedness Committee members will be assisting us in this drill today, and they a they will be wearing safety vest to identify them as volunteers. We thank everyone for their help.

We work very hard to plan for a number of emergency situations that may happen during a school day. How is your planning going? Is your family prepared for an emergency?

For any Cleveland parents reading this blog today, we hope to see you this afternoon. For those of you reading this after our drill, thanks again for your support.

Take care