School Safety and Emergency Management

The Pomfret Community School has a robust School Safety and Security Plan ensuring that systems and protocols are in place to maintain a secure building and a safe school community. We work closely with our local emergency responders  on prevention, preparedness, and response to a wide range of scenarios.  Together we ensure that our school updates and maintains this all-hazards plan and is in compliance with Connecticut state law. Our plan, along with all public schools, is  overseen and updated annually in partnership with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) and the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS).

Training and Drills

The district has established protocols for addressing a range of crises and emergencies. Each year, staff are trained in emergency procedures to ensure that new staff, as well as veteran staff, are prepared to handle any emergency. Our school has an All Hazards Safety and Security Plan  with step-by-step directions for responding to a variety of situations. An emergency procedures reference guide is in every classroom for easy access to the three main types of responses that would be employed in our schools. Staff and students practice these emergency procedures and protocols regularly. As is done for all safety drills, the practice is tailored to grade levels, using developmentally appropriate language and discussion topics.

Definitions and Procedures

There are terms that you may hear from your students as they practice the safety drills at school. To provide you with context and specific vocabulary, below we have provided definitions of the words most frequently used in an emergency. These words help to communicate the specific nature of the emergency and the actions that should be taken.

• Evacuation - This response is used when there is a fire or other unsafe internal condition. Students and staff evacuate to designated assembly areas.
• Shelter in Place - This response is used when there is an issue in the school or the community where we want to restrict movement or clear the hallways.  Students and staff stay inside classrooms with little or no use of hallways or common areas. External doors may be locked based on the specific situation. Instruction will typically continue.
• Lockdown -This response is used when there is an internal security threat. Students and staff are hidden and quiet in locked and darkened classrooms.
  

What Families Need to Know 

Plans Are In Place - Emergencies are unexpected, unpredictable, and take many forms.  No one can be fully prepared for everything that may happen, but we do have 

                                    response plans in place that are based on the latest research. 

Safety Committee - The school Safety Committee meets regularly to review our practices and discuss plans and strategies, training and drills, as well as reflecting on

                                    previous or potential situations. 

Parent/Family Notification - In the event of a school emergency, we provide information directly to the people impacted, as quickly and safely as we can. 

                                    Parents/families of students who may be impacted by a situation will be contacted directly via phone call, text, and/or email.  The message may be   

                                    short:  there is a situation, their child is safe, and the authorities are handling it.  A follow-up message may be provided directly to those

                                    parents/families, as well as a general one to the school community. Information will come from the superintendent, the principal, or the police. 

                                    Personal accounts or retelling of events on social media are not reliable sources of information and the resharing of them could potentially harm

                                    students or staff and jeopardize school or police investigations.
Reunification Site:   It is critical that you are patient, follow all the instructions, and only come when instructed by school or emergency officials. In the event of a school

                                   evacuation, students and staff may be transported to an alternate location.  You may be asked to meet your child here at school or at another nearby

                                   facility. You will be required to present proper identification prior to the release of students. Please be aware that students will only be released to

                                   people whose names are listed as emergency contacts. 

Family Do’s 

Prepare in advance . . . 

• Get Connected - Make sure we have your current phone number (for phone calls and texting) and email address so we can reach you quickly with an automated call, text, or email about an emergency situation. Update your contact information with our school office.
• Bookmark our website - For certain events we will post the latest available information on our homepage and will also create broadcast alerts which will pop up on the website. Check back frequently for updates and instructions on when and where you can pick up your child if parent pick-up is necessary.
• Like and Follow us on Facebook -Check our Facebook feed for the latest information and updates. 

Family Don'ts

If something happens ...

• Don't rush to the school - Coming to school may put you or your child at great risk. Additional people on the scene distract first responders from their primary job – student and staff safety. Instead, check our website, Facebook feed, your email, or your phone for information and instructions.
• Don’t call the school or district office - Resources are stretched thin during emergencies. Incoming calls take away from our ability to get updates to you through our website, email, and phone calls.