Emergency Drills

Last Updated: Friday, February 16, 2024
 

The health and safety of our students and staff are our top priority at Woodland Public Schools. On this webpage, you will find news and updates related to school emergency drills.

 


2023-2024 Safety Drills

August 31, 2023: Columbia Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
August 31, 2023: Woodland Middle School held a Lockdown Drill.
September 14, 2023: North Fork Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
October 16, 2023: North Fork Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
October 19, 2023: All schools participated in the Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill.
November 2, 2023: North Fork Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
November 14, 2023: Woodland High School held a Lockdown Drill.
November 15, 2023: Columbia Elementary School held a Secure Drill.
December 13, 2023: Columbia Elementary School held a Secure Drill.
December 14, 2023: North Fork Elementary School held a Secure Drill.
January 31, 2024: Columbia Elementary School held a Hold Drill.
February 16, 2024: Columbia Elementary School held a Secure Drill.

2022-2023 Safety Drills

June 7, 2023: Columbia Elementary School held an Earthquake Drill.
May 19, 2023:
Columbia Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
May 17, 2023:
North Fork Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
April 12, 2023:
Yale Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
April 12, 2023:
North Fork Elementary School held a Hold Drill.
March 22, 2023:
Woodland Middle School held a Shelter-in-Place Drill.
March 14, 2023:
Woodland Middle School held a Hold Drill.
March 14, 2023:
North Fork School held a Secure Drill.
March 7, 2023:
Columbia Elementary School held an Lockdown Drill.
March 2, 2023:
Woodland Middle School held an Lockdown Drill.
February 15, 2023:
Yale Elementary School held an Lockdown Drill.
February 9, 2023:
North Fork Elementary School held an Earthquake Drill.
February 7, 2023: Columbia Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
January 19, 2023:
Yale Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
January 19, 2023:
North Fork Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
January 11, 2023:
Woodland Middle School held a Lockdown Drill.
December 20, 2022:
Woodland Middle School held a Shelter-in-Place Drill.
December 20, 2022:
Woodland High School School held a Lockdown Drill.
December 15, 2022:
Columbia Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
December 9, 2022:
Yale Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
December 8, 2022:
North Fork Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
November 9, 2022:
Columbia Elementary School held a Lockdown Drill.
October 18, 2022:
North Fork Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
October 6, 2022:
Yale Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
September 16, 2022:
Woodland Middle School held a Fire Drill.
September 16, 2022:
Columbia Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
September 15, 2022:
North Fork Elementary School held a Fire Drill.
September 1, 2022:
Woodland High School held an Evacuation Drill.

 


What happens during each of our different drills?

Evacuate

Previously called a "Fire Drill," an Evacuate situation is called when there is a need to move students from one location to another. Each classroom teacher will initiate their class's evacuation typically, however, during a police-led evacuation, students may be instructed to form a single-file line and holds hands front and back.

In certain circumstances, students and staff may be asked to put their hands on their heads while evacuating. Other directions may also be given during an evacuation, so students and staff should be prepared to follow specific instructions given by staff and/or first responders.

Hold

A Hold situation is called when students and staff should stay in the room or area they are occupying and keep the halls cleared. Students and staff remain in place with room doors locked until the "All Clear" is announced and school activities take place as usual.

Lockdown

A Lockdown situation is called when there is a threat or hazard inside a school building. These can range from parental custody disputes to intruders within the physical boundary of the school. Lockdown uses the individual classrooms' security to protect students and staff from the threat.

During Lockdown, all individual classroom doors and other access points with occupants moving out of line-of-sight of corridor windows as well as maintaining silence. Teacher and student training reinforces the practice of not opening any classroom doors during a Lockdown and no indication of room occupancy should be revealed until first responders open the door.

Secure

Previously called a "Lockout Drill," a Secure situation is called when there is a threat or hazard outside a school building. These can include violence, criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood, or a dangerous animal on school grounds. Lockouts use the physical buildings as protection. During a Lockout, students are brought inside the building and all outside access points are secured and locked.

Classes typically held outside, such as gym class, would return inside and, if possible, continue inside the building. In circumstances such as the end of class day where students would leave the building, this may be prevented. Students and parents may be inconvenienced by Lockout Protocols, however everyone's cooperation is important to ensure safety.

Shelter

A Shelter situation is called when the need for personal protection is necessary such as spontaneous events including tornado, earthquake or a hazardous materials spill (also referred to as "hazmat"). Depending on the threat, students and staff may evacuate to a shelter area or seal a classroom.

They may also drop to the ground, find cover, and hold their heads. Alternatively, certain threats require staff and students to find high ground. A Shelter Alert is typically called by the building secretary, but may also be called by students, teachers, or first responders.

 


We welcome suggestions for improvement!

If there is additional information you would like to see on the Safety Corner website, please email your suggestion to our Director of Safety Vicky Barnes at barnesv@woodlandschools.org.