Emergency Preparedness
No matter where we live or where our children go to school, emergencies are a fact of life. Natural or manmade emergencies can occur without warning.
Our emergency plans consider every aspect of an emergency situation at the school in detail in order to eliminate snap decisions and indecision. We have tested these procedures and have proven them to be effective. It is the responsibility of all of us to learn these procedures and use them when necessary.
Emergency Information
In cooperation with the Paramus Office of Emergency Management, we are pleased to present our public with the following Emergency Information Packets.
The Hearts Plan
School Violence
The Plan for Your School
Please refer to the individual emergency plan for your individual school.
Memorial School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field.
- Walk to the designated relocation site.
- Load buses and transport to West Brook Middle School shelter.
Midland School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field behind the school.
- There is NO designated relocation site.
- Due to the close proximity of West Brook Middle School, occupants will walk directly to the West Brook shelter.
Parkway School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field behind the school.
- Walk to a designated relocation site.
- Load buses and transport to West Brook Middle School shelter.
Ridge Ranch School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field.
- There is NO designated relocation site.
- Because there is no convenient relocation site, we will make a rapid notification to the bus service.
- Load buses and transport to West Brook Middle School shelter.
Stony Lane School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field.
- Walk to the designated relocation site.
- Load buses and transport to West Brook Middle School shelter.
Eastbrook Middle School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field.
- Walk directly to the Paramus High School shelter.
West Brook Middle School:
- Evacuate to the assembly area on the ball field.
- Walk to the designated relocation site.
- Load buses and transport to Paramus High School shelter.
Paramus High School:
- Due to the age of the students, the diverse class structure, and students who drive to school, a structured emergency plan is less likely to work at the high school level. The process of accounting for all of the students will become more difficult and time-consuming.
- Follow standard evacuation procedures through the activation of the fire alarm.
- The size of the campus may permit relocation in a safe area of the building.
- School personnel may order an early dismissal.
- Transportation to a shelter in a neighboring community may be an option.
What I Need to Do in an Emergency
In the event of an emergency situation, here are the steps everyone in our learning community can take to ensure our emergency plans play out effectively.
Students:
- Remain calm and quiet.
- Follow your teachers’ instructions.
- Follow normal fire evacuation procedures when the fire alarm is activated or when directed to do so.
- Remain with your class; do not leave the group or the school grounds.
- Report any missing students to your teacher immediately.
Parents:
- Remain calm.
- We understand your concern for your child’s safety. We will make every effort to provide information with speed and consideration. Panic or hysteria will complicate the situation.
- Do not go to the school or relocation site.
- The process of moving to the shelter will be underway. Your presence will interfere with the efforts of emergency responders.
- Do not attempt to remove your child.
- We will count every student in numerous attendance checks. Releasing students in the midst of relocation or transportation to a shelter will cause confusion and hamper our attendance checks. Teachers under the stress of a serious emergency must remain focused on the class.
- Report to the auditorium of the designated school shelter for your school.
- Follow the directions for parking.
- Procedures will be in place at the shelter to provide parents and guardians with current and accurate information.
- We will ask parents to show identification and sign a release form before releasing the student.
Teachers:
- Remain calm.
- Maintain control of the students.
- Understand the emergency plan and procedures, and review them periodically.
- Maintain accurate attendance records.
- Records need to reflect that a student arrived late or left early. Remember, another teacher or aid may rely on your attendance book to account for every student.
- Provide assurance and comfort to the students.
