Emergency Procedures
Threats to School Safety

Lockdown

A lockdown response is initiated when imminent danger is present on the school property and the safety of students and staff is threatened. For example, an active attacker is in the building or on school property/grounds. 
Ways to initiate a lockdown:
Technically, anyone at the school can initiate a lockdown by the following:
  1. Call 9-1-1 to inform emergency responders of the situation
  2. Put school in lockdown either by
    1. Contacting reception (if Evenings/Weekends/Holidays, contact facilities at 416-999-1211) to hit the big red lockdown button or
    2. Contact any of the following people who have access to the lockdown app via their cell phones:
      1. Headmaster, Heads or Assistant Heads of Schools, and Director of Facilities.
Once a lockdown has been initiated, the school becomes an emergency site under the authority of the Toronto Police Service

Note: if you see a stranger with a weapon, do not confront them: call 9-1-1 and inform reception (if Evenings/Weekends/Holidays, inform facilities at 416-999-1211) immediately. Do Not Pull the Fire Alarm.
If you hear a fire alarm during a lockdown, remain in the locked down classrooms unless the situation requires your class to be evacuated, i.e. smell/presence of smoke or fire.
Procedures:
Daytime (weekdays):
  1. You will hear the following announcement: Attention please: Crescent School is in lockdown. Crescent School is in lockdown. Please respond immediately.  This message will continue to play until the police give us an ALL CLEAR (have lifted the lockdown).
  1. As soon as a lockdown is initiated, all access card readers are set to lock, and access cards will be deactivated.
  2. Students and staff outside the school building should move away from the building as quickly as possible, assemble at the emergency evacuation location (the Granite Club) and remain there until further instructions are received.
  3. Students/staff should follow the following lockdown procedures:
    1. Alert as many people as possible in the surrounding area
    2. Make sure your door is closed
    3. Make sure all your blinds are closed 
    4. Make sure all lights are turned off
    5. Keep everyone with you quiet and out of line of sight from windows and doors. Sit or lie on the floor or crouch behind or under a desk. Be as invisible as possible. 
    6. All cell phones, electronic devices, televisions, radios, and computers must be turned off.
    7. Students and staff must remain silent. Do not respond to anyone at the door until you are given the “all clear” by emergency personnel. 
    8. Adults should remain calm and reassure their students that the situation is under control. Students should be aware that the lockdown response may be in effect for an extensive period of time.
    9. Students/staff are to remain in secured rooms until further instructions are received. Under no circumstances should anyone leave a secured area.
    10. Given the unique and rapidly changing dynamic of a lockdown situation, consideration must always be given to evacuating the site or to relocating to another area in the building should the place become unsafe. Individual discretion must be used to determine the best course of action.
Note 1: If you are not able to get into a secured classroom in time, please go somewhere out of sight. For example, a stall in a washroom, an open storage room, anywhere you can hide.
 
Note 2: Be aware that the active attacker may use the PA system or the fire alarm to access potential victims.
Lifting a lockdown response:
  1. Only police personnel determine when the incident is controlled and the danger has passed. No individual or group can be released from a secure area until authorized by a police officer or emergency personnel in person. 
    1. A police officer will open the door and give you instructions on what to do next. The officer will ask everyone to remain in the room until a formal announcement is made over the PA. The announcement will include the following:
      1. Lockdown is over
      2. Please report to Home Form or check in with your manager for attendance and next steps
School Buses in Transit
If the bus has already left the school
  1. Notify the staff about the lockdown situation
  2. Let them know that they do not return to the school until the lockdown is lifted
  3. If the excursion is completed before dismissal then an alternate pick-up location will be decided, and parents will be notified
If the bus has not already left the school
  1. All students/staff will remain in the school and the excursion will be postponed, delayed or cancelled.
2365 Bayview Ave. Toronto, ON M2L 1A2
Ph: 416.449.2556