September 5, 2014
Dear CIC Parents,
The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority for Columbia International College. We have been implementing a number of measures as part of a comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring our school remains a safe place for our students to learn.
In addition to fire drills, one of the procedures we will be practicing is a lockdown drill at our school and our residences.
The school or residence would go into a lockdown when there is a potentially violent situation, which may include:
• threats to individuals;
• aggressive or violent intruder; or
• threats in the local community
While we have never, in the past 36 years, experienced any of the above situations where an actual lockdown was required, we believe in being prepared.
Prior to running a drill, please be assured that our staff at school will spend time discussing the importance of this procedure with students. During the drill, when possible, our School Police Liaison Officer may assist us in conducting the lockdown drills just as the Fire Department assists with evacuation drills. After the drill, we will also take time to remind the students that it was only a practice and there was no danger.
During a lockdown drill, classroom doors are secured and the students remain inside the room until instructed by the teacher to resume their activities. All exterior doors are locked and no one is permitted to enter or leave the building.
Students are kept inside the school and classrooms or residence rooms when circumstances make it safer to stay in the classroom or residence room rather than evacuate. Just as we prepare our students to properly respond to a fire drill, they also need to be aware of the proper response during a lockdown drill. These drills should be treated with the same level of importance as fire drills.
In the event of a lockdown, your son or daughter will not be permitted to use their cell phone, as it is imperative that our safe locations remain quiet.
If your child communicates their concerns with you, please ask them to speak with their teacher or any staff member at school. We practice these drills to ensure our school remains a safe place for teaching and learning. Please take the time to speak with your son/daughter about this procedure and reinforce its importance.
Please contact your CIC Liaison and Admissions staff if you have any further questions about our lockdown drills.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best wishes,
Ron Rambarran, Principal
Timothy Putt, Head of Senior School
Denice Garell-Teti, Head of Junior Middle School