Emergency Preparedness at Bassano School
Being responsible for the children, youth, and young adults in our community is a responsibility that the staff at Bassano School and Grasslands Public Schools takes very seriously. To ensure our environment remains a safe place to learn, we utilise the Hour Zero School Safety Program. This comprehensive framework allows us to align our emergency response with the local RCMP, our Central Office Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) staff, and first responders to ensure a seamless, coordinated effort in the event of a crisis.
Every year, all schools are required to undergo a variety of emergency preparedness drills. We practice these to ensure "automaticity"—the ability for students and staff to act correctly without hesitation.
Our Emergency Protocols (Hour Zero Standard)
To keep our communication clear, we use specific Hour Zero terminology. Here is a brief overview of the protocols we practice:
Evacuation: Used when it is safer outside the school than inside (e.g., fire or gas leak). Students and staff clear the building quickly and move to a designated assembly point.
Shelter-in-Place: Used when there is an environmental hazard outside (e.g., a chemical spill or extreme weather). We secure the building's perimeter and turn off ventilation systems to keep the indoor air safe.
Hold and Secure: Used when there is an ongoing situation outside the school (e.g., police activity in the neighbourhood). All exterior doors are locked, and no one enters or leaves, but classes inside continue as normal.
Lockdown: Used when there is an immediate threat inside the building. Staff and students move to secure areas, extinguish lights, and remain silent and out of sight.
Why Drills are Unannounced
Students are expected to conduct themselves as if every drill is a real event. We do not notify students or parents/guardians in advance because we want to ensure our protocols work under realistic conditions. If students were told "it’s just a drill," their level of anxiety and fear during a real emergency would be substantially higher due to a lack of practised, calm responses.
Recent events globally remind us of the need to be prepared and never become complacent. By working closely with our Central Office OHS experts and the RCMP, we ensure that our safety plans are constantly reviewed and refined.
Update on Today’s Drill
This morning, we undertook a regularly scheduled Lockdown drill. As has been my experience thus far at Bassano School, the students and staff conducted themselves with the appropriate level of caution and care. The overall drill lasted approximately 15 minutes, after which students returned to their regular classes.
If you have any questions about Grasslands Emergency Procedures or how Bassano School responds to emergency situations, please contact me at the school during regular school hours.
Tim Rodgers, Principal, Bassano School