Scholars, parents, and staff at Holly Park Academy recently sharpened their school safety skills by participating in their first-ever reunification drill. These drills are part of a new effort taking place across all National Heritage Academies schools. The goal is to work towards a universal reunification drill process that reunites students with their families during or after a crisis.
Currently, all schools are required to participate in either a walk-through reunification process with staff or they may elect to go through a full reunification drill to ensure the best practices are in place for everyone involved.
Holly Park Academy principal and David Stevens, academic and behavioral school specialist and school safety specialist, prepared the lineup of practices, including a lockdown drill and moving the scholars to a reunification site.
“The school leadership team met with staff and parents to discuss various safety processes, said Brian Gard, director of safety and health at NHA. “They all executed each procedure and did a great job.”
Once the scholars were moved to the reunification site, the parents began their process, which includes parking in the pre-determined area, going inside the school to fill out the required documents, and finally ending with the staff bringing the scholar to the reunification point and joining them with their families.
Keep up the great work, Holly Park!