Safety and Security » Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures

For the district's emergency response plans to be effective, we must depend on the cooperation and assistance of many people, such as local police, and emergency and fire departments. We also depend upon the parents of our students to support our efforts. Your cooperation is vital to helping us protect the safety and welfare of all children and school employees. 
 
Parents can receive information by a variety of methods, depending on the time and manner of the emergency. Information will be provided on an as-needed basis; however, the administration will provide as much information on the situation as possible to parents without compromising the safety of any person involved or without violating laws relating to confidentiality. 
 
  • School Messenger: The School District can call, text, or email Norwin families with School Messenger. It is essential that you provide the District with accurate phone numbers and email addresses. You should also alert the District when there is a change to any phone number or email address. To check your information, visit https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsedunorwinpa/seplog01.w. If you see that one of your phone numbers is incorrect, you are asked to contact any school office where your child attends
    • To Receive Text Messages: Families can receive text messages from Norwin School District by texting the word "yes" to 67587. 

  • Skyward Message Center: Norwin School District can send emails and post messages to Family Access through the Skyward Student Message Center. The burden is on parents and guardians to make sure that their email address is correct and up to date in the Skyward system. To check your information, log into your Skyward Family Access account by clicking here and following these steps:
    • Click the “Account Info” tab found in the upper right corner of the screen
    • Address, email address and phone numbers on file are listed
    • Click “Change my email” to update the email address on file
    • If you need assistance logging into Skyward Family Access, contact the IT Department
    • Letters Sent Home with Children: If the emergency is one that does not require immediate notification, we will provide information about the emergency or situation in a letter that will be sent home with children.
    • District Web site: Emergency Information may appear on the District’s homepage at www.norwinsd.org
    • Local Media: There may be emergencies that will prompt us to use our local media, both newspaper and television, to broadcast to parents.

In the event of a significant emergency, we understand that a parent’s first reaction will be to come to the school to pick up his/her child. When there is a significant emergency, we urge parents to refrain from coming to the school because it may interfere with the capacity of emergency personnel to perform their jobs effectively. In many instances, emergency personnel will not permit access to the school buildings. 

Communication with the parents will come as soon as reasonably possible. Additionally, the district will provide timely updates using the local media, the District website, School Messenger, and other forms of communication as deemed necessary.

Please be advised that District-level communication is sent for more urgent reasons. School principals will also periodically share building-level information through email or phone calls.

Our ability to communicate with parents and guardians depends upon having accurate contact information for parents and guardians. Therefore, Norwin School District will be asking parents and guardians to annually update the information that they have on file through the School District’s online registration program.
The Norwin School District can send text messages to families to communicate a school bus delay, a school closing, or other operational issue.Skylert
 
For parents to receive texts from the School District, please make sure to follow these steps:
  1. Log into your Skyward Family Access account.
  2. Click the Skylert tab (see screenshot at right).
  3. Verify your phone number(s) under the “Contact Info” area.
  4. Additional phone numbers (for a babysitter or a high school student, for example) can be added under the “Text Message Numbers” area.
  5. Those wishing to receive text alerts must text “Yes” to 67587 from the phone number that they want to receive the text messages. This includes parents and any numbers listed under the additional Text Message Numbers area.
  6. Anyone can opt out of texts at any time by sending “Stop” to 67587.

The phone number that you want to receive text alerts must be associated with a student at Norwin School District.
 
It is essential that you provide the District with accurate phone numbers and email addresses in Skyward. You should also alert the District when there is a change to any phone number or email address.
As part of our safety plan, our schools are locked at all times. Before entering any school building, each person will be asked to provide specific information that includes his/her full name and purpose for his/her visit. Once the doors are unlocked for entrance into the building, he/she must enter the main office and will be asked to show a form of legal identification, preferably a driver’s license, to the designated personnel that will process the identification information and a visitor’s pass will be issued.

Each person must buzz in separately. We do not permit people to hold the door and allow others to enter. Visitors must enter and exit through the main doors.
Modified Lockdown:
 
Modified Lockdown is initiated to isolate students and staff inside the school from a potential danger outside the school. A Modified Lockdown means that normal instructional activities within the building continue as much as possible; however, no outside events, field trips or outside activities, including recess, occur unless explicitly cleared by School Administration. While in Modified Lockdown, entry and exit to the school will be prohibited.
 
Parents/guardians are not to report to the school during a Modified Lockdown.  The District will not dismiss any students until the event is cleared by law enforcement.  Factual information will be provided to parents and community members when available and appropriate for release.  If a situation is not resolved prior to dismissal, students and staff may remain in the building until the situation is cleared by law enforcement.  Students will receive necessary accommodations and information appropriate to their age/grade level while remaining in a building after dismissal.
 
Full Lockdown:
 
Full Lockdown is initiated to isolate students and staff inside the school from a direct danger to the school district, school building, or students and staff. A Full Lockdown means that normal instructional activities will cease and specific lockdown protocols will be initiated.  No outside events, field trips or outside activities, including recess, will occur. While in Full Lockdown, entry and exit to the school will be prohibited.
 
Parents/guardians are not to report to the school during a Full Lockdown.  The District will not dismiss any students until the event is cleared by law enforcement.  Factual information will be provided to parents and community members when available and appropriate for release.  If a situation is not resolved prior to dismissal, students and staff may remain in the building until the situation is cleared by law enforcement.  Students will receive necessary accommodations and information appropriate to their age/grade level while remaining in a building after dismissal.
 
Reunification:
 
If an evacuation of a building or the District is necessary, students and staff will be transported from the building in a safe and secure manner to a pre-determined location. When appropriate and safe, information will be communicated to parents on proper reunification procedures.  If it is appropriate for parents/guardians to report to the school to pick up students, the District will share procedures for doing so in a timely and orderly manner to facilitate safe reunification and limit traffic congestion or other unsafe situations.  Parent/guardian cooperation for a safe reunification process is essential and appreciated.
School Safety Contact Information
 
Dr. Lisa N. Duval
Coordinator of School Safety and Security
724-861-3000 x1142
 
Mr. Rod Stewart
Assistant Coordinator of School Safety and Security
724-861-3000 x1131
You can also contact your child’s building principal for information about school safety.