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As the old saying goes “practice makes perfect” and this week, York Catholic staff and students will be practicing how to stay safe in emergency situations. The reason for all the practice - the week of September 19-23 has been designated as “Safety Awareness Week,” and school staff are eager to acquaint students with the steps to follow in the unlikely event of an emergency at school.
Schools will be practicing drills that include the warning of severe weather or an intruder in the school.
Practising safety procedures is important, and York Catholic students are up to the challenge of learning how to be safe during an emergency, as observed by Good Shepherd CES principal, Domenica Ferri-Violante.
“It is wonderful to see our younger pupils learning these safety procedures, as accidents have no age limits,” said Mrs. Ferri-Violante. “Practicing emergency codes and responses ensures all students are aware of the importance of reacting calmly and appropriately by removing the fear of the unknown.”
Outside of Safety Awareness Week, schools are always paying extra attention to safety and several practice drills are held throughout the school year in order to remind students of the procedures.
Ensuring safety at school for all staff and students is team effort. Each elementary school has an established Core School Crisis Response Team, made up of the school’s principal, secretary, and caretaker, as well as one to three additional staff members. At the high school level, the core team also includes a representative from the Guidance Department, and the school’s chaplain. Aside from the Core Team, each school also has an Extended Crisis Response Team that includes a school council representative, the local parish priest, the board’s chief psychologist, and the area superintendent.
Safety is of the utmost importance at York Catholic and Safety Awareness Week allows staff and students the chance to learn the appropriate procedures at the beginning of the school year, and review them as the year progresses.