At St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, the safety of our ākonga, staff, and visitors is our highest priority. Our responsibilities include:
- Identifying and minimizing potential risks,
- Preparing for and responding to emergencies, and
- Managing recovery from crisis situations affecting our ākonga, staff, and the school environment.
In the event of an emergency or disaster, our primary focus is to ensure the safety of our community until we can safely release everyone.
Preparation for Emergencies
We are dedicated to ensuring your ākonga’s safety through comprehensive planning, procedures, and practice drills. We regularly conduct fire evacuation, earthquake, and lockdown drills in accordance with recommendations from the Ministry of Education. These drills help ensure that our school community understands emergency procedures and can respond effectively.
Lockdown Practice Communications
Effective communication is crucial during lockdown drills. We will inform families in advance via newsletters and email. This allows whānau to discuss potential lockdown scenarios with their ākonga. Regular, low-key routines help ākonga stay calm.
During and after drills, we will communicate updates through email and text. We appreciate your patience as we carry out these practices.
Civil Defence Emergencies
Civil defence emergencies include natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides) and hostile attacks.
If a state of emergency is declared, you will receive an alert on your mobile phone. During such events, we will follow guidance from Civil Defence and Emergency Services. Ākonga will remain at school until they can be safely collected or released as directed by Civil Defence or NZ Police.
In the event of a severe earthquake, there might be delays in receiving an ‘all clear’ or it might not be issued at all, depending on the extent of the damage. We will relocate to a Community Emergency Hub if needed. For more details about the local Community Emergency Hubs in Auckland see: Community Emergency Hub
School-Specific Emergencies (Including Lockdowns)
School-specific emergencies might include fires, chemical spills, serious injuries, suspicious packages, violent intruders, trespassers, bomb threats, or gas leaks. In these situations, our priority is the safety of ākonga and staff, and we will follow procedures to mitigate any impact.
Lockdowns
A lockdown is initiated in response to a direct threat to the school or surrounding community. During a lockdown, everyone on site will stay indoors, away from windows, and exterior doors will be locked. No one will be allowed to enter or exit the school until the ‘all clear’ is given by the police.
School Closure
While we strive to keep the school open, we may close it if there are safety concerns due to extreme weather or other dangers. We will notify whānau before the school day starts whenever possible.
Ākonga Collection and Release
In emergencies, we may need to adjust our usual procedures. Please be flexible and understand that safety is our top priority.
Civil Defence Situations
- Ākonga can be collected by a primary or emergency caregiver. A primary caregiver may authorize another adult to collect their ākonga during daylight hours. High school ākonga aged 14 and over will be released. Those under 14 will only be released during daylight hours if authorized by their primary caregiver.
Lockdown Situations
- No ākonga will be released until the ‘all clear’ is given by the NZ Police.
- If the ‘all clear’ is given before 3 pm, normal school routines will resume, and ākonga can be picked up as usual. If after 3:30 pm, primary and high school ākonga must be collected by a primary or emergency caregiver. High school ākonga will be released or can stay until picked up by a caregiver.
School-Specific Emergencies
In a school-specific emergency, if the school cannot operate normally or is deemed unsafe by the Principal or NZ Police, the school will close, and ākonga will be released.
Communication with Whānau
We will keep you informed through various methods during emergencies:
- Alert messages via SMS or the SchoolBridge app
Ensure your contact details and those of your emergency contacts are current. Update them via:
- Email: [email protected]
- School App: SchoolBridge
- Phone: 09 215 6113
Download the Schoolbridge App from the App Store or Google Play and enable notifications to stay updated.
Teamwork
We must work together to ensure safety during emergencies. Parents/primary caregivers should provide up-to-date contact information and follow school instructions. It’s helpful to have at least one local emergency contact who can collect your ākonga if needed.
Discuss emergency procedures with your ākonga and develop your own family emergency plans. For assistance, visit Get Ready for useful information.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community safe. For convenience, this information is available on the school app and as a hard copy from the school office.