Evacuation Drill Email (10/11/23)

Dear Morton Junior High School Families,

Illinois School Code (School Safety Drill Act) requires that all schools prepare and practice for a full school evacuation as part of their school drill procedures. Throughout the school year, we practice drills for a variety of purposes.  We conduct annual fire drills, severe weather drills, and bus evacuation drills.  Schools are also required to work in collaboration with local law enforcement to plan and practice a full scale evacuation drill. This fall, MJHS will be participating in a full school evacuation drill in collaboration with the Morton Police Department.  This drill will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at 8:15am.  We anticipate that the drill will last approximately two hours from beginning to end.  Upon returning to school, students will go about their day with an adjusted class schedule.  

 

Every student, teacher, and staff member (with the exception of certain school office personnel) will be evacuated from the building and travel by bus to Grace Church, which is our off site evacuation location in the event that we would be required to evacuate the school.  On Tuesday, October 17, our school will be placed in a hard lockdown at approximately 8:15am, and the Morton Police Department will secure our building. They will then facilitate the safe evacuation of all students to our off site location.  Medical support will be available at MJHS and also at Grace Church for any student who may need assistance.

 

Buses will be lined up beginning at 8:00 and ready to transport all students and staff from MJHS to Grace Church as part of the drill.  Once all students and staff are evacuated to Grace and accounted for there, we will all return by bus to MJHS. 

  

Please note that any students who arrive after 8:15am when the drill has begun will only be able to enter the building through the main office, but will remain there for the duration of the drill.  There will be no other adults, visitor, or volunteers permitted to enter the school while the drill is ongoing.  We encourage you to avoid scheduling any appointments for your child for the morning of Tuesday, October 17.

 

In order to be ready to leave the building in an emergency situation, we practice these situations so that students and staff are prepared. We would evacuate students and adults from the building for a variety of reasons-fire, spill/leak, structural failure, etc. The purpose of these drills is not to scare students or worry anyone.  Participating police officers will be from the Morton Police Department and will be wearing normal uniforms.  It is our goal to conduct this drill as effectively and efficiently as possible.     

Please reach out if you have any questions regarding this drill. We appreciate your help to ensure your student arrives on time for school on Tuesday, October 17.

Sincerely,

Chris Carter
Principal