Oak Knoll has a
well-developed emergency plan that deals with a number of possible
emergencies. This plan is aligned
with the Menlo Park School District Emergency Plan, the State Emergency
Management System (SEMS) and the California Administrative Code, Section 560,
Title 5.
If the Superintendent declares a District emergency during the school day, all students will be required to remain at school or an alternate safe site under the care and supervision of District personnel.
Until regular dismissal
time and released only then if it is considered safe, OR
Until released to an adult
authorized by the parent or legal guardian whose name appears on District
records or their student ID tag.
If students are on their
way to school they will be brought to school if bused, or they should proceed
to school, or the nearest District school site.
If students are on their
way from school they are to continue home.
During a Declared Emergency, students, who have not been picked up by their parents or other authorized person, may be taken by District personnel to another site where consolidated care facilities can be provided. This information will be given to the media stations to keep parents informed.
Parents and legal guardians
of students will be provided with a Student Health/Emergency Form each
year. In case of a Declared
Emergency, students will be released ONLY
to the person designated on this form.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that information on the Student
Health / Emergency Form is current.
Parents are asked to share
the responsibility along with the school for informing students of what they
should do in case of a severe earthquake or other major emergency. Parents need to give specific
directions to each student to follow the policy outlined above and to comply
with school authority. School
authorities will do everything possible to care for each student if he/she is under
District supervision.
It is critical that
students do not have directions from parents that are contrary to the
District’s stated policy on retention at school and authorized release in case
of a severe emergency.
In the event of an
emergency please remain calm and remember that your children will be taken care
of. Your children’s safety is our
first priority.
Oak Knoll staff will follow
the Oak Knoll Site Emergency Plan and those policies set out by the District
Plan. All staff has designated
roles in any emergency and a command structure exists. Each classroom is
equipped with a Red Emergency Backpack and Emergency Clipboard containing a
class roster, Student release/medical ID tags and first aid/emergency supplies
and materials. In addition the
school has emergency food and water for the immediate crisis and up to 72
hours.
Teachers and students will
follow the school’s evacuation procedures. After evacuation, roll will be called and each student will
be given his or her ID tag to wear.
Students will be supervised at the school site until a parent or
designated alternate appearing on the ID tag can come and pick up the
student. For this reason, it is
important all information on this ID tag is current and those designated are
someone with whom you have discussed this situation and have mutually agreed
upon an emergency plan.
In the event of a serious
earthquake where building safety becomes an issue, parents or designated
persons should come to the school as soon as possible to pick up your
child. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL. Phones will be needed for emergency
information. Tune into local radio
and television for community news and instructions.
Please, park on the
surrounding streets. DO NOT PARK IN DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING AREA OF
SCHOOL. These areas will be needed for emergency vehicles.
Proceed carefully and
calmly to the designated Student Release Area. Personnel or signs will direct
you. There will only be one
location from which students will be released.
ID will be required unless
you are already familiar to the adults in charge of release. We will need to record who picked up
each student as well as the time picked up and their destination. This needs to
be done in a calm and orderly manner to manage the situation and as such will require
patience on everyone’s part.
After your information has
been checked and authorization to pick up the student has been confirmed, then
and only then will the student be released.
Talk with your child about
emergency plans within your family.
Tell your child not to be worried if it takes a long time for someone to
pick him/her up. Your child will
remain safe at school until you or a designated person on the ID tag arrives to
pick them up. Make sure your child is familiar with the authorized designated
Emergency Release people on their tag and remind students that they must follow
all directions given by school personnel in cases of emergency.
Your child’s ID card can be
updated at any time during the school year. You can get a blank copy of the form from the Office, from your
teacher, or online.
