In our newsletter this week, we answered a pre-K parent’s concern: “Have you guys ever gone through this lock out thing before? I’m not sure how much to say or if the kids even know.”
We have done lock-outs before, but they are a rare event, honestly. A lock-out happens when there is an imminent concern outside of the school, and a lock-down happens when there is an immediate threat outside or in the school. You’ll recall there being a lock-out in November when two high school students made a threat against the school. You’ll also recall it being misreported to WENY news as a lock-down–it was a lock-out, though, not a lock-down. It’s an important difference, because those are two very different things.
In our schools, the lock-outs are no different than any other day, except that the kids can’t play outside. No, your kids won’t know something is going on! The doors to our school are always locked. A lock-out just means that we can’t unlock the door for you until we get permission to do so. There’s no reason to panic or worry, seriously. I have asked my kindergartner how school went when we had those lock-outs, and she reported nothing extraordinary. She had no idea anything out of the ordinary had happened. Business (fund and learning) as usual.
A lock-down is different: the children can’t play outside and have to stay in classrooms. They’ll be made aware that something is going on. We haven’t had a lock-down at our school. But if we do, rest assured that your children are in safe hands! Remember that our friends’ and coworkers’ children are Diven Dolphins. All of your children are a part of our dolphin family, too.