Dear Parents/Guardians,
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure environment, we will be conducting ALICE safety drills this week. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) is a nationally recognized protocol designed to help schools respond effectively to emergency situations, including intruders or threats.
What is ALICE?
ALICE is a proactive approach to school safety, teaching staff and students how to respond in an emergency situation. The ALICE protocol is based on five key steps:
Alert: Becoming aware of a potential threat.
Lockdown: Securing the area and preparing to protect oneself if necessary.
Inform: Receiving real-time information to guide decisions and actions.
Counter: Creating distractions or disruptions to reduce a threat, if necessary.
Evacuate: Leaving the area when it is safe to do so.
Why Are We Conducting ALICE Drills?
While we hope these skills are never needed, being prepared is key to keeping everyone safe. ALICE drills empower students and staff with knowledge and strategies to respond appropriately to various situations. These drills will be done in a way that is calm, age-appropriate, and designed to reassure students rather than create fear.
How Will the Drills Be Conducted?
Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is a top priority. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance school security, we will continue implementing ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) safety drills. However, rather than focusing on specific scenarios, our training will emphasize essential safety skills that can be applied in various situations.
By teaching adaptable skills—such as situational awareness, decision-making, and response strategies—students and staff will be better prepared to respond to any potential threat. These drills will be conducted in a developmentally appropriate manner, ensuring that students feel informed and empowered without unnecessary fear or stress.
How Can Families Support School Safety Training?
We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of safety drills and reinforce that these practices are in place to protect them. Open communication at home can help students feel more comfortable during the drills. If you need assistance with discussing this topic, feel free to reach out to our School Resource Officer, Mitch Pashek mpashek@crestonschools.org for additional resources.
Final Thoughts
We are confident that these drills will help our students and staff be better prepared in the unlikely event of an emergency. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our school community feels confident and secure in knowing what to do to stay safe. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to keep our school safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mitch Pashek, School Resource Officer
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