What Parents Need to Know About School Emergencies
Should an emergency occur at your child’s school during the school day, we understand the importance of keeping every parent informed of the incident from the beginning to the end. So parents have an understanding of how to prepare and respond to a school emergency, the following information serves as a guide.
How will I be notified if there is an emergency at my child’s school?
Should there be an emergency situation at your child’s school, parents will be notified by phone and email via AlertNow. As new information on the emergency situation becomes available, updates will be provided. With this in mind, it is important for your school to have your correct phone numbers and email addresses. All parents are encouraged to check with the office staff at your child’s school to make sure your home, cell, and work phone numbers along with email addresses are correct. Effective January 1, 2011, parents have the option to elect to receive a text message via the AlertNow parent notification system.
In addition to the AlertNow phone, email, and text messages, are there other ways a parent can be updated on the emergency?
Parents also have the option of using these two resources for updates on the emergency:
- Call the VBCPS Emergency Hotline at 757.263.1000. This phone number is manned by staff Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Visit the homepage of vbschools.com.
As a parent, how often will I be updated on the school emergency?
It is important to remind parents that most emergencies take place in a relatively short period of time with new information becoming available in a rapid manner. Often, the initial information released to the public does not portray an accurate account of the emergency. To ensure that every parent has the most accurate account of the emergency situation, parents will be updated by school division staff via AlertNow. These updates will be communicated to parents when new information becomes available and when the emergency has ended.
How can a parent prepare for an emergency at their child’s school?
As a parent, the single most important thing you can do to prepare for a school emergency is to provide accurate emergency contact information to your child's school and notify the school office staff if it changes. This will allow school staff to provide you with timely updates using the AlertNow parent notification system. It is critical that your child’s school has access to your current phone numbers and email addresses during an emergency situation so you can be notified and updated with the most current information.
As a parent of a child enrolled in Virginia Beach City Public Schools, when notified about a school emergency my first reaction is to be is near my child or my child’s school. Should I report to the scene of the incident/emergency?
Understandably, upon notification of a school emergency, a parent’s first reaction is to be as close to his or her child as possible. However, due to the nature of the emergency this is not always possible. Should there be an emergency situation in a school or at a school-sponsored activity, access to the scene will be limited and controlled by fire or police officials. During an emergency, it is critical that parents receive important information and directions from school officials before going to the school or scene of an emergency.
When parents are notified of the emergency situation, information will be provided to parents, by school staff, giving direction on how they should respond. Parents are encouraged to remain close to their source of communication, whether it is phone or email, to ensure they are receiving accurate and timely updates on the emergency from school division staff.
Once the emergency is declared "over," will parents be able to report to their child’s school?
When school staff communicate to parents that the school emergency has ended, direction will be provided on how parents will reunite with their child. Parents will be directed to a specific location that could be located off campus. It is important that parents follow these directions for the safety of all students, staff, and parents.
Remember, a student can only be released to an adult that is documented as an emergency contact. If you are a non-custodial parent, you must be listed with your child's emergency contact information as a guardian and show proper identification.
If the school building is evacuated, how will I be able to locate my child?
Each school has a procedure for helping parents locate their child. Parents will be directed to a specific location where they will be required to show proper identification. Remember, a student can only be released to an adult who is documented as an emergency contact. If you are a non-custodial parent, you must be listed with your child's emergency contact information as a guardian and show proper identification.
Facts and Terms Every Parent Should Know
Should an emergency situation occur at your child's school, it is important that parents are familiar with these terms.
Internal Lockdown
During an internal lockdown all school interior doors are locked and students are confined to their classrooms and no entry or exit of the school is allowed. This takes place if there is a threat or possible threat inside the school.How will I know if a school is in an internal lockdown?
The main entrance doors will be locked and a sign will be posted on the front door indicating that the school is in an internal lockdown. You will be referred to the VBCPS Emergency Hotline at 757.263.1000 for information regarding this incident.External Lockdown
During an external lockdown all school exterior doors are locked. This takes place if the threat is outside of the school. If the situation allows, parents could be admitted into the school with proper identification.If the school is in an external lockdown, what type of identification will I need to enter the school?
If it is deemed safe for you to enter the building, you will need to show a proper form of identification such as a driver's license, military I.D., VBCPS school I.D. or other valid photo identification.What does Shelter-in-place mean?
Shelter-in-place means selecting small, interior rooms in the school, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there until it is safe to release students. This is a precaution aimed to keep our students safe from hazardous materials that may have been released into the atmosphere. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) This procedure is implemented if it is determined that evacuation or dismissal could possibly place students at risk.