Hello CI Parents,
This afternoon we conducted an IOC, or Intruder on Campus, drill at school. This was definitely only a drill, and it was structured by our School Resource Officers. Drills are a regular part of schooling for children, and they are very accustomed to having them regularly. Drills are mandated by the State of Oklahoma to insure student safety. We want to make certain that we are always fully prepared and confident in our protection of our students in the case of an emergency.
We are mandated to practice different types of drills in a variety of ways. Not only do we do the standard tornado and fire drills, but we are required to do different types of security drills in the method that we determine best. Our IOC drill was developed based on Homeland' Security's Run, Hide, Fight method. We call out a random location and teachers respond accordingly. If they have time to take their class out of the building, or "run," then that is how they react. If they must shelter in place, or "hide," they may also prepare to "fight" by barricading doors and having students hold items they could use to throw or to protect themselves. In our drill, in some classes, students ball up wads of paper. This method empowers teachers to use resources and measures to keep their kids safe rather than just sit in the classroom, especially if running to safety is a better option.
Typically, our students react to these drills just as any other and are not very anxious or concerned with them. However, I encourage you to speak to your child about this drill in case there is any anxiety. Teachers will be speaking with them as well in order to alleviate any fears. Research shows that teachers get more angst about these drills than students, but we want to make sure our students understand the importance of preparation. Knowing we have a plan in place that will keep them safe will give kids peace of mind as they go about their school day.
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you!
Brenda Shaw, Principal