From County Supervisors Adrienne J. Tissier and Supervisor Don Horsley:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The tragedy of the Oregon school shooting yesterday is yet one more stark reminder of how important it is for you and your families to be familiar with The Big Five school emergency response protocol in San Mateo County. Please see the important message below from the San Mateo County Office of Education and distribute this email and the flyers attached to all of your contacts, friends and families in our county and encourage them to do the same.
Our children are our greatest assets. Let’s work together to keep them as safe as possible.
We appreciate your assistance in helping to educate everyone in San Mateo County on this important issue.
Supervisor Adrienne J. Tissier and Supervisor Don Horsley
Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities
County of San Mateo
It’s October and that means nearly 94,000 San Mateo County students are back in school. What better way to support your student than by having a conversation about school safety? Discussing this topic at home can help ease potential fears and anxieties and make it easier to have classroom discussions about school safety.
San Mateo County has developed The Big Five, a school emergency plan with five key responses to any possible emergency:
· Shelter in Place is the response to an environmental hazard, like smoke in the air or wildlife on campus.
· Drop, Cover, and Hold On is the immediate response to an earthquake or explosion.
· Secure Campus is the response to a potential threat of danger in the surrounding community.
· Lockdown/Barricade is the response to an immediate threat of violence on campus.
· Evacuation is the response when it is safer to be outside of the building or off school grounds than it is to be inside or on school grounds.
The most important thing to remember is that schools are safe places. Principals, teachers, and staff work closely with public safety officials to ensure that children are safe at school, and school staff is trained in these protocols. If you have questions about your school’s specific safety policies, we recommend contacting your child’s teacher or principal.
Please click the link below to learn more about The Big Five:
http://www.smcoe.org/learning-and-leadership/safe-and-supportive-schools/the-big-five.html
For More Information contact the San Mateo County Office of Education at (650) 802-5588
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