Cedar School News and Updates 9/20/22
The Hanover Public Schools are committed to ensuring a safe and nurturing educational environment for our students and staff. The district has worked hard to develop its emergency plans, including having teachers annually trained in A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) in the event of a threat during the school day.
With that being said, I am writing to inform you that on Thursday, September 22, 2022, with the help of the Hanover Police Department, we will conduct an announced safety drill at the Cedar School.
Each year, our students participate in age-appropriate safety drills to ensure that they are prepared in the event of a true emergency situation. Safety and security are an important part of every school day, and the more that we practice routines and common language the better prepared our students will be when responding to an emergency.
During the drill, students will be instructed to listen to the adult(s) in the classroom and follow the plan. The plan could include students and staff moving to a “safe space” that is away from doors and windows. The plan could also include evacuating, depending on the threat and the information we have at the time. After the Hanover Police Department and the school’s administration have checked each room, staff and students will be informed over the PA speaker that the drill is over and normal classroom activities can be resumed.
Please remember that we conduct these drills so that our staff and students can practice their important roles in these unique situations. Students participated in a fire drill during the first week of school and did a tremendous job following the plan, which included exiting the building quickly and safely. There will be both additional fire and A.L.I.C.E. drills over the course of the school year through our partnership with the Hanover Fire and Police Department.
The safety of your child at school is my number one priority. As a parent of two young children, I recognize how difficult the topic of safety drills is to think about. Please know that these drills will be age appropriate for our young learners. You can help support the children by speaking to them about the upcoming drill on Thursday and help to reinforce the following language:
- Listen to the adult(s) in charge.
- Follow the plan.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any specific questions or concerns about this procedure.
Best,
Jesse Craddock
Principal