Emergency Release Day – May 14th

Date: THURSDAY, MAY 14th at 2:00pm

This event is district-wide and occurs close to the majority of regular dismissal times to facilitate planning and preparation for district families to make suitable arrangements.

Purpose of Event: In the event of a major emergency, it may become necessary to release students from Baker Drive before the regularly scheduled time. A successful emergency release protocol requires preparation now, including a 'practice run' to help ensure a smooth procedure should such a release become necessary.

Sequence of Events and Family Responsibilities

On May 14th, Baker Drive staff and students will participate in an emergency drill at 1:50pm. Students will be led outside and will meet on our school field at the front of the school. Staff will first complete attendance and inform administration of any students or staff unaccounted for. Once this process is completed, staff will complete a series of simulated emergency responsibilities and begin to set-up check-out stations for families to sign-out their child or children.

Student Release Process

Once our staff emergency responsibilities and check-out stations have been organized, families will be able to start the check-out process for their child(ren).

There will be two student release tables set-up with signage on our blacktop near the flagpole. Table 1 will be for our Neighborhood Program(Divisions 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 & 10) and Table 2 will be for our Montessori Program (Divisions 3, 4, 7 & 8).

Please provide staff with the name of the child(ren) you are picking-up along with their division. A staff member will then retrieve the child from the student area and bring them to you at the student release station. Please be aware that this process will take time, especially if you are picking-up children from multiple divisions.

Adults picking-up children will be required to record their name, the name of the child(ren) being pick-up as well as the time of pick-up as part of our emergency protocols.

Preparation involves IMPORTANT ACTION on the part of Parent/Guardians:

• To check-out your child or a child of another family, you must be listed on the child’s Student Emergency Release Form:
• This form provides information to the school that identifies your child, siblings, and adult individuals that your child may be released to in the event of an emergency.
• Often a responsible adult that is named in this document is different than an 'emergency contact' that may be listed in school records. This individual should live nearby, preferably within walking distance, and be able to pick up your child in the event of an emergency release situation. Such an individual may be a neighbor or parent/guardian from the school, for example.
• It is critical that such information is kept at the school in the event of an emergency release situation, like an earthquake or fire, that requires students be escorted off school property.

If you have made arrangements for a friend or family member to pick-up from child from school and they are not listed on the Student Emergency Release Form, please email Ms. Ploss to request a new form.

• Childcare operators for Baker Drive may choose to participate but are not required to do so. Students attending daycare will remain on -site until their scheduled pick-up time from their daycare operator unless alternate arrangements are made by families.

​​If you have any questions regarding this event, please reach out to Mr. Jamieson (jjamieson@sd43.bc.ca).​