Family Safety Guides
The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We have plans in place to handle emergency situations in coordination with local law enforcement and first responders. The following is how you can stay informed and support these efforts before and during an emergency.
Help us keep your child safe by following the emergency DOs and DON’Ts listed below. View a printable version.
Emergency Best Practices for Families
Emergency Do’s
- Make Sure We Can Reach You. Keep your contact information up to date! Confirm we have your updated contact information so we can reach you quickly with an automated call, text, or email about an emergency situation.
- Download ParentSquare. ParentSquare is our school-to-home communication platform for school news, emergencies, and incident alerts.
- Stay Informed with Our Website. We will post the latest information on our homepage during confirmed emergency situations. Check regularly for critical updates and instructions, including when and where to safely pick up your child if necessary.
Emergency Do Not’s
- Don't rush to the school. Let responders focus on student safety. Please refrain from coming to school unless directed to do so. Responding to the school before directed may put yourself or others at risk. Instead, check our website, texts, and email for updates and instructions.
- Don’t call the school or district office. Allow staff to focus on the emergency. Refrain from calling during an emergency. It will take staff attention away from critical response efforts and may delay important updates. Check our website, texts, and email for updates and instructions.
To report an emergency at one of our schools or facilities, first call 911, then report it to our safety and security office at 206-631-7600.
Family Safety & Emergency Guide
Have a Family Plan
Each family should have a plan for what to do if your child arrives home early due to an emergency, including the following:
- What is the best route home if your child cannot be delivered to the normal bus stop?
- Where could they go if they needed help?
- Who would care for them until you arrive?
- If you are not available, is there someone your child knows to call?
See a Safety Concern on Social Media? Report, Don’t Repost.
Avoid spreading unverified information on social media. Instead, report any concerns directly to law enforcement and our Safety and Security department. Reposting or sharing a threat in an attempt to warn others spreads the threat farther from its original source and causes unnecessary alarm and fear.
What happens in a School Emergency?
Each school has a plan with specified roles and responsibilities for handling various types of emergencies.
Specific safety procedures are followed, depending on the type of emergency. Every situation is unique, so school staff may adjust their response to address student safety first.
Learn more about emergency and saftey procedure responses on our Safety Procedures webpage.