EMERGENCY PROTOCOL - I LOVE U GUYS
Student Safety
Creating a safer school climate for our students is a priority. A critical ingredient in creating a safer school environment is classroom response to an incident at school. Weather events, fire, accidents, intruders, and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by students, teachers, staff, and administration, in partnership with our first responders.
The St. Helens School District, in collaboration with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), St. Helens Police (SHPD), and Columbia River Fire and Rescue (CRFR), has implemented the Standard Response Protocol (SRP).
Standard Response Protocol (SRP)
The SRP is not based on one individual possible scenario but on the response to any given scenario. One large benefit of the SRP is the standard language used by all responders; this includes students, parents, staff, and first responders. The protocol also allows for a predictable series of actions as an event unfolds.
The SRP is based upon five actions: HOLD, SECURE, LOCKDOWN, EVACUATE, AND SHELTER. Each has specific staff and student directives that are unique to the action.
HOLD
"In You Classroom or Area"
Students are trained to:
- Clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the "All Clear" is announced
- Do business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Close and lock the door
- Account for students and adults
- Business as usual
SECURE
"Get Inside. Lock outside doors"
Students are trained to:
- Return to the inside of the building
- Business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Bring everyone indoors
- Lock the outside doors
- Increase situational awareness
- Account for students and adults
- Business as usual
LOCKDOWN
"Locks, Lights, Out of Sight"
Students are trained to:
- Move away from sight
- Maintain silence
- Do not open the door
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Recover students from the hallway if possible
- Lock the classroom door
- Turn out the lights
- Move away from sight
- Maintain silence
- Do not open the door
- Prepare the evade or defend
EVACUATE
"To a Location"
Students are trained to:
- Leave stuff behind if required to
- If possible, bring their phone
- Follow instructions
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Bring roll sheet and Go Bag (unless instructed not to bring anything with them, dependent on the reason for evacuation)
- Lead students to the Evacuation location
- Account for students and adults
- Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method
SHELTER
"State Hazard and Safety Strategy"
Hazards might include:
- Tornado
- Hazmat
- Earthquake
- Tsunami
Safety Strategies might include:
- Evacuate to the shelter area
- Seal the room
- Drop, cover and hold
- Get to high ground
Students are trained in:
- Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
Adults and staff are trained in:
- Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
- Accounting for students and adults
- Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method
During any of the scenarios listed above, we ask that you do not call or go to the school. Doing so could put you or others in danger. Do not call or text the student’s cell phone. This may put them in danger. The District will communicate with you once we have more information to share. Reliable information and updates can be viewed on the school and District webpages. If further action is needed on the part of parents and guardians, the District will communicate that information with instructions through ParentSquare (our mass notification system) and the District webpage.
Student and Parent Reunification
Events may occur at school that requires parents to pick up their students in a controlled release. The process of controlled release is called a reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, a hazmat issue, or if a crisis occurs at the school.
The St. Helens School District, in collaboration with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), St. Helens Police Department (SHPD), Columbia River Fire and Rescue (CRFR), and other community partners have implemented the Standard Reunification Method, based on protocols established by the I Love U Guys Foundation.
Student and Parent Reunification is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved. Because a controlled release is not a typical end-of-school day event, a reunification may occur at a different location than the school a student attends. If this location is another school, then those students may be subject to a controlled release as well.
Notification of a Student and Parent Reunification
Parents may be notified in a number of ways. The school or district may use its broadcast phone or text message system. In some cases, students may be asked to send a text message to their parents. A reunification text message from a student may look something like this: “The school has closed, please pick me up at 3:25 at the main entrance. Bring your ID”.