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Safety Calendar

Rebekah Pierce
EAD 536
January 24, 2024
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Safety Calendar

Sharon Elementary is a rural Title I elementary school located in the westernmost part of

Iredell County along Interstate 40 in Statesville, North Carolina. We have around two hundred

and fifty students from grades kindergarten through fifth. It is imperative to have safety measures

in place when thinking about emergencies that may arise at any given time. As administrators,

we must prepare for these emergencies and practice fire drills, evacuations, and lockdowns

throughout the school year. Teachers must also be trained to make sure they are following the

proper procedures when conducting these various emergency plans.

Collaboration

At the beginning of each year, our school safety team has to turn in our Safety Plan to the

district. Our plan must be approved for the school year. Each year updates must be made that

includes new personnel names and updates to routes for our fire drills, evacuations, and

lockdown procedures. It is important that our administration team works with our local fire

department for fire drills. These drills must be scheduled so that the fire department does not

come to the school thinking there is an actual fire. The principal must appoint an office person to

time the drill, which must also be written down each month. Our school resource officer is

involved with our lockdown drill and helps decide when they will be. The first one at the

beginning of the year is announced to teachers but the second semester lockdown drill is

unannounced. The Sheriff Department must be present during these drills as they are the ones

who can open the rhino locks on our doors. Training for teachers takes place at back-to-school

staff meetings for new hires, BTs, and new to NC teachers.

Vision and Mission

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Our safety calendar at Sharon aligns with our school’s vision and mission. Sharon’s

vision says “Together we will make a positive impact on the lives we serve by inspiring students’

dreams and equipping students with the skills & knowledge that they need to open their access to

endless opportunities. Sharon’s mission is “One community, working together to educate,

empower and succeed”. Having these drills allows students to feel empowered with the

knowledge to know exactly what to do in the case it becomes a real fire, lockdown, or

evacuation.

Moral and Legal Considerations

There are always moral and legal considerations to think about when it comes to our

School Safety Plan. In the state of North Carolina, if a school misses a monthly fire drill, there is

a five hundred dollar fine. The school has to pay the fine and then can be put on an action plan.

Our lockdown procedures are based on local district policy. Compliance with laws and

regulations related to student safety is crucial. Authorities mandate specific safety protocols and

emergency preparedness measures that schools must follow, which are laid out in the safety plan

each year.

Prioritizing the safety and well-being of students is a primary moral consideration.

Decisions regarding safety drills and school calendars should aim to create a secure and

supportive environment for learning. Developing effective emergency preparedness plans and

response strategies is a moral duty. Schools should be proactive in addressing potential risks and

protecting the well-being of students and staff.

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Calendar

AUGUST

1. Tuesday 8th – Teacher Training

● This is the second day back for staff for the new school year and training will be given during the morning

meeting of how fire drills and evacuations will take place for the school. This will also allow time for new

teachers to ask any questions they may have.

2. Monday 14th – 1st period/Homeroom (1st day of class)

● All teachers will train students on procedures, what to do and how to behave, as well as where to go during fire

drills and evacuations.

3. Tuesday 22nd - 10:00 a.m.- 1st Fire Drill with students

Classes in the 4th & 3rd grade hall will walk out the door near Mr. Brown’s office and down to the blacktop.

The students in the 5th grade hall will walk out the door near music and exit to the blacktop on the playground.

The 1st & 2nd grade classes will walk out the door near the office and exit to the grassy area. Kindergarten

classes will exit out near the gym and go into the front of the building in the grass. Any classes that are in PE

will follow the kindergarten classes to the grassy area in the front of the building. Art & Music classes will walk

down to the blacktop.

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4. Friday 25th – Bus Evacuation Drill – during enhancement period

We are required to complete 2 Bus Evacuations per school year. The first 10 minutes of each enhancement the

enhancement teachers will take their students out to Bus 2. Each grade level will fit on one bus. A bus driver

will be there to explain a front and back bus evac and then students will practice. Homeroom teachers, ensure

you have shown your bus safety video prior to Friday.

*Bus Driver Reminders:

● Time the Evac and turn times into P. Parker

● Students must sit on their bottoms to exit the rear and not jump from standing position.

● In front of the emergency window exits front; behind Emergency window exits rear.

*Enhancement teacher reminders:

● Each teacher stands on either side of the rear exit and hold their hands as they sit and slide off the back

*Debrief- The principal will send an email to all staff with positive feedback and any modifications that need to be made.

SEPTEMBER

1. Tuesday 12th – Fire Drill – 10:45 a.m. during 2nd block. Kindergarten students will be in enhancements so this will be a good

practice for them to know where to go while with the PE teacher and Art Teacher.
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*Debrief- Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

OCTOBER

1. Tuesday 3rd- Lockdown

a. Irate Parent comes into the Main office and threatens to harm a staff member with a gun. Office staff immediately goes

into lockdown protocol. First grade was on the playground and had to hide away from the building.

*Debrief- Principal and the Sheriff Department were thoroughly impressed with the lockdown procedures followed by each teacher

and staff. The principal sent an email that said there was not one child left in the hallway. She also sent reminders for teachers:

● Never talk back to me or the Sheriff's Office. EVER. Even if I'm crying or begging.

● Cover your windows and shut your blinds.

● Engage your door lock and rhino lock.

● Kids in the bathroom-- scoop up who you can even if they are not your students. Lock your door and don't ever unlock it again

until it's unlocked by a deputy or admin. Tell kids if they don't make it into a classroom to stay in the locked stall with their

feet up.

2. Thursday 12th- County Wide Fire Drill - 9:00 am

● The drill was set for 9:00 am. However, there was a lot of inclement weather; so, the principal had to contact Fire

Marshal Josh Levan at (980)635-3057, to reschedule the drill for the following day.
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*Debrief- Discussion between the fire Marshall and principal takes place with impressive feedback at our small school. The principal

will send an email to all staff with positive feedback and any modifications that need to be made.

NOVEMBER

1. Thursday 16th – Fire Drill- 1:00 p.m.

● Classes in music will walk out their back door, down the playground area to the black top. Classes in PE will walk out

the gym doors to the front of the building into the grassy area. Classes in STEM will walk out the back breezeway with

our second-grade classes.

*Debrief- Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

2. Thursday 23rd – Evacuation Drill

A family member of Antonio’s jumped over the fence and gained access to the school campus. He was carrying a loaded weapon, and

the school went into evacuation protocol. As many kids as possible are loaded onto school buses no matter how they fit (sitting,

standing, etc), The reunification point was not allowed to be disclosed until today. In this case, the principal contacted the

superintendent and only he could give the location- and our parents were notified by the district office to meet them at Bethel

Community Church in the parking lot.

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*Debrief – This was such a horrific day for students, so counselors were at the church to help them understand they were safe. The

principal went around and checked on every staff member.

DECEMBER

1. Tuesday 12th – Fire Drill @ 11 a.m.

● Lunch has begun and our third-grade students are in the cafeteria. These students must file out of the cafeteria into the

bus parking lot away from the school.

*Debrief - Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

JANUARY

1. Friday 19th - Fire Drill @ 9:00 a.m.

● All teachers will remind students on procedures, what to do and how to behave, where to go during fire drills and

evacuations. Our EC students are told in advance so the teachers can move them to their safe place on the playground

before the actual drill begins.

*Debrief - Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

FEBRUARY

1. Wednesday 7th – Lockdown drill – Lunch time

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○ A student was found with a BB gun in their bookbag and when approached they ran out of the media center doors and

into the woods across the street of the school. Location of the student is now unknown.

*Debrief- Principal and the Sheriff Department were thoroughly impressed with the lockdown procedures followed by each teacher

and staff. This lockdown took a while before the student was found to have the BB gun. Administration was thankful it was only a BB

gun.

2. Monday, 19th- Fire Drill @ 1:00 p.m.

*Debrief - Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

MARCH

1. Monday 11th - Fire Drill @ 10:30 a.m.

*Debrief - Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

APRIL

1. Tuesday 16th – Fire Drill – Lunch

● Lunchroom doors are blocked by trash cans. Students and teachers along with cafeteria staff must go through the

kitchen and out to the cafeteria back service door to go to the playground.
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*Debrief - Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

MAY

1. Wednesday 1st – Fire Drill @ noon

*Debrief - Administration announces over the intercom that the fire drill is over, and all students and staff may return to the building.

*During staff meetings, teachers are reminded of what the protocol is for fire drills. They have opportunities to ask any questions.

There is once a semester training to ensure that they stay up to date with all the procedures as it pertains to evacuations and lock

downs. Sharon Elementary has Rhino door locks, so any teacher that has forgotten how to use it is provided with a video to watch at

their leisure.