Dear Families,
What a great start to the school year! We are so excited to have your children learning with us at Pinecrest. It’s been great seeing the smiling faces as students see familiar faces, catch up with old friends and begin to make new ones. I’d also like to thank everyone for your patience, cooperation and understanding as we implement our new procedures. This week I would like to address the question some families have asked about how to talk about the school’s safety procedures at home.
One of our highest priorities is keeping students safe while ensuring they feel comfortable and cared for each day. A key part of that work is helping children understand what to do in different safety situations through something called the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation.
The SRP uses simple, consistent language that students can easily understand. Words like Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter are introduced in a calm and age-appropriate way, so children know what to expect and how to respond if a situation ever arises. For example, “Evacuate” may simply mean leaving the building during a fire drill, while “Hold” might mean staying in the classroom while the hallways are cleared.
We practice these responses a few times each year, keeping the focus on safety, confidence, and reassurance. Just like fire drills or practicing seatbelts in the car, the goal is preparation—not fear. Teachers use positive, supportive language, and we keep drills short and calm. If a child ever feels worried, staff are there to provide comfort and reassurance.
Families often ask how to help at home. We encourage you to use the same simple terms your child hears at school and to keep the tone matter-of-fact. Remind your child, “We practice so everyone knows what to do, just like practicing seatbelts in the car,” which helps normalize the routines. During a real event, families can help most by waiting for official updates from the school or district rather than calling right away, which keeps lines open for emergency communication.
The SRP is just one part of our broader safety efforts, which also include secure entry procedures, visitor check-ins, and ongoing staff training. If you’d like to learn more, visit the “I Love U Guys” Foundation website (SRP The "I Love U Guys" Foundation) or reach out to us with any questions. I have included three examples below with more specific details you can use to talk to your child on how each of the protocols could be used at school.
Hold
Medical Emergency in Hallway: EMS needs access, so students “hold” in their classrooms.
Custodial Cleanup: A spill makes the hallway dangerous or disgusting, requiring students to stay put until maintenance is finished.
Behavioral Incident in Hallway: A dysregulated student requires the hallway to be cleared while adults intervene and restore order.
Secure
Wild Animal on Campus: A stray dog or raccoon is outside, so everyone remains indoors with doors locked.
Law Enforcement Activity Nearby: Police activity in the surrounding neighborhood prompts securing the building’s outer doors.
Unfamiliar Person Outside: Someone is seen lingering by an entrance, so everyone is called inside and the doors are locked.
Lockdown
Unknown Person/Intruder Inside: Someone enters the school who has not checked in or been identified, prompting a lockdown.
Parental Custody Dispute Escalates: A parent shares their frustration that occurs inside the building, leading staff to initiate a lockdown for safety.
Threatening Behavior by a Visitor or Student: Aggressive threats, physical confrontation, or another unpredictable situation from a visitor or student within the school.
Evacuate
Fire Alarm: The fire alarm rings and everyone follows planned exit routes outside.
Gas Leak: The smell of gas leads staff to immediately evacuate all students and personnel from the building.
Mechanical Failure (e.g., Power Outage): Systems fail and the building is deemed unsafe for normal activities, so students are evacuated to a safe location.
Shelter
Tornado Warning: Severe weather warning signals, so everyone moves to designated storm-safe areas.
Hazardous Materials Spill Nearby: A spill at a nearby facility requires the school to shelter in place.
Flooding Threat: Rapidly rising water or flash flood warnings mean students and staff must move to upper levels or interior rooms to shelter.
Paul Bakker
Principal
Pinecrest Elementary
pbakker@isd200.org