Emergency Protocols for Parents

It is important to stay composed ensure your safety and the safety of others.
Don't Rush to the Schools: It is important to avoid going to the school during an emergency unless you are explicitly asked to do so by school officials. This can greatly interfere with the efforts of emergency responders to manage the incident.

In a crisis situation, school phones and the people who answer them are needed to manage the situation and lines must remain open.  

Listen carefully to the instructions given by school officials or emergency responders and follow them immediately. This will help everyone to stay safe.

Keep updated on the situation through official school channels, such as the school website, social media, or email. This will provide accurate and timely information.  Rely on official communications from school or public safety officials. Monitor Parent Square and our website. 

If you are in touch with your child during an emergency, tell your child to remain calm, and to follow instructions from school officials. Do not give them instructions that may contradict what they are being told to do by school staff. 

Some emergency situations will end with children being transported home.  Make arrangements for a trusted adult to receive your child in the event that you cannot meet young children at their bus stop.

Some emergency situations will end through a reunification process.  Children will only be released to parents or emergency contacts on file. If instructed to do so, come to the reunification site with photo identification and your cell phone. 

In response to an imminent concern outside of the school, a lockout secures all campus occupants inside the building. Visitors will not be admitted to the building, and occupants are restricted from leaving. Normal operations will continue inside the buildings. Students will not be released during a lockout.

In response to an imminent threat in or around a school, a lockdown is used to quickly ensure all school staff, students and visitors are secured in rooms away from immediate danger.  Entry or exit from the school is restricted until the building has been deemed safe by emergency responders. Students will NOT be released during a lockdown.

Evacuation takes place if it is determined that it is safer outside than inside the building (fire, explosion, intruder, hazardous material spill) and staff, students and visitors can safely reach the evacuation location without danger. 

A hold-in-place may be issued during a non-threatening event such as a medical emergency or maintenance issue. Hallways are cleared, students are kept in classrooms and instruction continues. Students will NOT be released during hold-in-place.

A shelter-in-place may be issued when it is necessary to remain inside the building due to exterior hazards such as severe weather or other type of  hazard. Students are kept in a safe space inside the building until the situation has been resolved. Students will NOT be released during shelter-in-place.

In the unlikely event it is necessary for students to be reunited directly with their parent or guardian, the District will provide information via phone, email, and/or text regarding their child's specific location. Students will only be released to a parent/guardian or other adults listed as emergency contacts. Photo identification will be required. The individual picking up the student will be asked to complete a Student Release Form (available onsite). 

This procedure is designed for your student's protection. Please be aware that reunification can be time-consuming, and we appreciate your patience.

Familiarize yourself with this document and the language in it.  This will help you communicate with your child and better understand communication from the district in the event of an emergency.

Make sure your child's emergency contact information is up-to-date and accurate. You can review and change your emergency contacts by e-mailing portal.support@chappaquaschools.org.

Inform your child of these emergency contacts and tell them that in the event of an emergency, if you cannot get to the school, they may be asked to pick them up. 

Your child should be aware of your plan In the event that school closes early. Some children are dropped off at an alternative bus stop. You can update your early dismissal arrangements by contacting the school’s main office.

If your child requires medication, please be sure it is supplied to the school nurse.

Tell your child that in the event of an emergency, that you will follow the directions of the school district and will only pick them up if you are asked to do so by District Officials.