At Kenora Catholic our priority is your child’s safety. We recognize the importance of being prepared should there be an emergency situation that threatens the safety of our staff and students. To protect everyone involved, we have developed specific emergency procedures to deal with potential threats.
We invite you to become familiar with these procedures. It is important that all members of our school community feel safe when they are in our schools. Learn more about the reasons for an emergency response and what happens in the classroom.
These procedures were created in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police and four other boards in the region as well as in accordance with the Ministry's Guidelines for Developing and Maintaining Lockdown Procedures for Elementary and Secondary Schools in Ontario.
Shelter in Place
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Secure School
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Lockdown School
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LOW Level Response -
This will be initiated when a potential environmental or weather related threat exists outside of the building. Staff and students must remain inside the locked school for safety reasons. Students who are outside will be brought inside immediately.
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MEDIUM Level Response -
This will be initiated when a potential threat exists inside or outside of the building. Staff and students must remain inside their classrooms with the doors closed and locked. All exterior school doors and windows will also be locked and blinds closed. Students who are outside the building or their classroom will be directed to the closest safe area of the building.
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HIGH Level Response -
This is the highest level of response to a threat. Staff call 911, and everyone must remain silent, out of sight, with the lights off, windows closed, blinds closed and behind locked doors. Once police arrive, they take command of the school and direct the response. Once the school is released from Lockdown, a Secure School procedure is put in place.
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Possible Causes:
Extreme weather (hailstorm, severe lightning, etc.).
Environmental Issue (forest fire, gas leak, threatening wildlife, etc.).
Incident involving emergency response close to the school (traffic accident with serious injuries) possible threatening situation which has not yet been investigated or confirmed
Any other circumstance where the school principal needs to ensure student safety.
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Possible Causes:
Emergency situation inside the school where people moving around might prevent authorities from doing their job (police, fire, medical).
Incident involving emergency response close to the school (traffic accident with serious injuries).
An intruder is suspected to be a possible threat to staff or student safety.
Possible medical situation which has not yet been investigated or confirmed.
Any other circumstance where the school principal needs to ensure student safety.
Investigation of a bomb threat, but immediate evacuation is not required
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Possible Causes:
An intruder is suspected to be a possible threat to staff and student life or safety.
Imminent danger is present on the school site and safety of all is threatened.
Any other circumstance where the school principal needs to ensure student safety.
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Whats Happens in the Classroom:
Teachers reassure students that there is no imminent threat and that they are safe while they remain inside the school.
Exterior school doors are locked and all windows are closed.
Lights stay on and the classroom door is kept open.
Regular classroom instruction continues students follow the normal daily rotation of classes.
Students may access washrooms, with teacher permission.
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What Happens in the Classroom:
Exterior school doors and windows are locked.
Lights stay on, the classroom door is closed and locked, and the blinds are closed.
Regular classroom instruction continues.
Students are not allowed to leave the classroom.
Medical or washroom emergencies are addressed individually by teachers.
If a student has an urgent medical or biological need, teachers will call the main office to ask for help from an available staff member.
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What Happens in the Classroom:
Exterior school doors and windows are locked.
Lights are turned off on, the classroom door is closed and locked, and the blinds are closed.
Students are not permitted to leave the classroom.
Staff and students stay silent and hidden away in the safest area of the room.
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Please see Kenora Catholic's AP 332 - Emergency Protocol: Shelter in Place, Secure School, Lockdown School for additional information.