Safety Procedures
Safety Incident, Actions & Notification Process
Each school has a plan with specified roles and responsibilities for handling various types of emergencies. Specific safety procedures will be followed, depending on the type of emergency. Every situation is unique, so school staff may adjust their response to address student safety first.
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.
A school implements one of the following procedures in response to a safety issue or emergency:
HOLD
Everyone stays in classrooms until the situation is clear. This could be used for an altercation in the hallway or a medical issue that needs attention.
SECURE
All doors are locked; activities continue inside while staff ensure the school is secure. This could be used for police activity in the area or an unknown person on the grounds.
LockDOWN
Immediate action to lock doors, turn off lights, and stay out of sight in case of a serious threat. This could be used for a report of a weapon or an intruder.
EVACUATE
Safe and orderly evacuation from the building. This could be used for a suspected fire or gas leak.
SHELTER
Protecting from environmental hazards like severe weather or earthquakes. This could be used because of an earthquake or severe weather.
REUNIFICATION
As a result of one of the above scenarios, students may need to reunite with families through a controlled release at an identified location.
Safety FYI
When a safety concern is raised—whether it’s a social media rumor or a report of concerning behavior in the school community—we take it seriously. Our goal is to provide clear, timely communication that supports awareness, builds trust, and reinforces safety protocols. The information below outlines how families can expect to receive updates and what actions they can take to support a calm, informed response.
Staff & Family Action
During this time our staff is aware of the situation and reinforcing protocol. Families are asked to provide support by sharing only verified information distributed by the school.
How will families know?
- After school notification. No follow-up unless new, actionable information emerges. Families are notified using email and ParentSquare app.
Set Up Texts and Alerts in ParentSquare
You can choose how and when you receive messages from ParentSquare. Select email, text, or app and choose Instant or Digest timing. We recommend turning on text notifications and using the Digest setting to receive one daily summary of non-urgent messages while urgent alerts still come through right away.
setting your notification preferences
- Log in to ParentSquare
- Click your name in the top right corner to update your notification and language settings
- Select Instant or Digest for each school
- Choose how you'd like to receive messages—by email, text, or app
Emergency alerts—such as closures due to weather, active emergencies and lockdowns—will always be sent via app, email, and text. Other safety notifications—like “safety FYIs,”“hold,” “secure,” or after-event messages—are sent through Smart Alerts and will follow your chosen notification preferences.
Accessing ParentSquare
Use the links below to download the ParentSquare mobile app.