Safety & Security

Standard Emergency Response Protocols

It is important that everyone understands and uses common terminology. For parents, understanding the terminology may ease fears and concerns during an emergency.  Schools practice safety procedures throughout the school year to know how to respond to any emergency situation.

• Evacuation
  • Evacuation is considered appropriate for, but is not limited to, situations such as floods, fires, hazardous materials incidents, or other situations that may render the school site unsafe.
• Teach-In-Place
  • Teach In Place is considered restricted movement and is considered an appropriate response to a situation to clear the hallways.
• Lockdown
  • Lockdown is considered appropriate for, but not limited to, situations that involve a threat to students and staff.
• Shelter-In-Place
  • Shelter in Place is considered appropriate for situations such as hazardous materials releases, nearby fires or tornadoes, or other weather events.
• Active Threat / Intruder
  • Active Threat / Intruder response is considered appropriate for, but not limited to, situations that involve an intruder within the school who poses an immediate threat to students and staff. 

• If there is an emergency at one of the WSSD schools, wait for official instructions to be communicated using School Messenger. LISTEN! This telephone message will inform you of what has happened and what (if anything) you should do.

• Please do not call the school. Phone lines and staff are needed for emergency response efforts and incoming calls include these important resources.

• Please do not go to the schools unless instructed. Traffic congestion impedes the movement of emergency vehicles and can make a difficult situation much worse.

WSSD uses School Messenger, the District website, and Facebook as part of its ongoing efforts to communicate with students, families, and staff. In an emergency, School Messenger will be used to contact parents directly as quickly as possible. A variety of critical situations that impact children, ranging from severe weather and power outages, to emergencies that may cause a school to evacuate, shelter, or lockdown, will trigger a School Messenger phone call. School Messenger may also be used by individual schools to communicate important routine information to their school community.

• Watch for a phone call, email, or text message with information sent via the WSSD School Messenger Service.

• Visit the WSSD website at www.WSSD.org

• Visit the WSSD Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/WallingfordSwarthmoreSchools/

Every parent who has a child attending WSSD schools is automatically signed up to receive messages through School Messenger, however it is up to you to keep the school informed of any changes to your email address, phone numbers, or emergency contacts. In order for WSSD to contact you as quickly as possible when an emergency occurs, the District must have accurate contact information for all parents. 

Whenever a parent changes a phone number or e-mail address, they need to notify their child’s school as soon as possible so that their information can be updated. 

• Listen to and acknowledge your child’s feelings and concerns.

• Provide reassurance to your child that they are safe and that school is safe.

• Seek help from school personnel or a mental health professional if needed.

• Ensure your school has accurate emergency contact information for your child and notify the school if it changes.

• Identify who would be authorized to pick up your child if there is a school or community emergency. Make sure anyone identified is listed as an emergency contact in your child’s student emergency information.

• Communicate with your child about being prepared for emergencies. This includes understanding drills, such as fire drills, and taking them seriously. It also includes recognizing anything that is out of the ordinary or unusual in the school day and reporting it to an adult at school.