Today, Yorkton RCMP, Yorkton Fire Protective Services and Crestview Ambulance will be responding to Sacred Heart High School, located at 280 Gladstone Avenue North, for a lockdown drill.
The drill will run from approximately 9:45 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. It is important to note that the drill is just a practice and there is no imminent danger to staff or students at the school.
This exercise will help Sacred Heart High School and Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools Division develop their emergency policies. This mock exercise also gives emergency services the opportunity to practice our protocols.
This drill will be more extensive and involved than the drills that have been practiced at the school in the past. As part of this drill, students, staff and the daycare children will be moved to three different predetermined offsite secure locations.
We are asking the public to keep the roads around the building clear to ensure emergency vehicles can access the area. If you are driving in this area and are approached by the police, we ask that you respect the directions you are given.
On Sept 24th, parents of the students were notified that a drill would be taking place, however, the date of the drill was not disclosed to keep the drill more authentic. This information has also been posted on the school鈥檚 websites and social media accounts to ensure parents see it.
As difficult as it is, we are asking parents to not contact the school or their children directly. A ringing cell phone could give away the secure location the kids are in. A high volume of calls could also tie up the cell phone signals, preventing first responders from being able to communicate. We are also asking parents not to attend the school as they will be in the way of emergency services.
S/Sgt. Jeff Simpson, Detachment Commander of Yorkton RCMP Detachment stated, "Activities such as this are extremely important for all first responders. They allow us to coordinate our efforts, procedures and policies to ensure we are all working in a cohesive and effective manner. Every organization involved today is hoping these plans are never called to action, but these preparations and training exercises create learning opportunities for improvement and confidence in our own respective actions and responsibilities."
鈥淟ockdown鈥� procedures would be enacted in any situation where there is a threat of violence within or in relation to the school. Students and staff would remain in a sheltered area until the situation is resolved.
鈥淗old and Secure鈥� procedures would be enacted when an emergency situation occurs outside and is not related to the school, but in close proximity to the school. All exterior doors would be locked and monitored. Classes would resume as normal, however no one would be permitted to exit the building until the hold and secure protocol has been lifted.
Staff from other schools have been invited to take part in this drill so they can share the information learned during this drill with their school.
