On November 5, 2009 the J.T. Waugh Elementary School will participate in an Emergency Drill that will be more involved than ever before.  This drill will occur during the afternoon.  During the drill various levels of the school’s Emergency Response Protocol will be tested.  In order to accomplish this a great deal of planning has occurred to create a scenario that will be carried out on the 5^th during the afternoon.  Local police, emergency responders, school representatives, and community members have been part of the planning process. 

Please know that our intention is to test all facets of the plan that is currently in place, and to learn from the results of the drill.  The children will know that this is a drill, and it will not involve anything that will frighten or alarm school age children.  However, it is important to note that during the drill the students will see or be exposed to the following:

1. The school will see police and emergency responders in the building and perhaps in their classrooms.
2. A lock out procedure will be called for meaning that no one will be allowed to enter or leave the building at some point during the drill.
3. A controlled evacuation to the First Congregational Church will occur during the drill.
4. Our bus transportation will pick up students at the church using Main Street at our normal dismissal time.
5. Parents picking up students on the 5^th will be routed to the church to pick up their child.
6. The local police will have created a perimeter around the school prohibiting vehicular traffic.
7. Our automated phone calling service may need to be used to provide timely notification to families regarding procedures to be used for parents wishing to pick up their child.

It is extremely important that we continue to drill for various types of emergencies and that we create exercises that all parties concerned learn from.  Everyone remembers fire drills from their days in school, and here at Waugh our building evacuates completely in an average of 75 seconds.  This occurs because of repetitive practice.  Likewise, we will continue to drill for emergencies that unfortunately occur far too frequently in our world today.  Our best defense is a school community that remains calm, and knows how to react when emergencies occur.  This only occurs with proper practice.  I want to thank everyone in advance for their cooperation during the drill.  Keeping your children safe at school remains our most important responsibility.