Language for Emergencies

The Cove School uses a list of common terminology to describe various emergency situations that may occur in our buildings. This list has been developed in collaboration with local law enforcement. The terminology is used when providing updates to parents/guardians, staff, and students during an emergency situation. Please note that in the event of an active shooter in the school, the school will use the phrase "Active Intruder" rather than "Lockdown" to describe the situation. 

Active Intruder

  • An active intruder is called when a serious/volatile situation occurs at Cove and the physical safety of staff and students is at risk.  During an Active Intruder Lockdown situation staff, students and visitors will have to assess their unique situation and know their options. 

Bomb Threat

  • In the event of a threatening communication regarding the presence of a destructive device(s) on school property, staff are instructed to gather as much information as possible and report it.  

Evacuation Off-Campus

  • Evacuation may be used in situations students, staff and visitors are required to exit the building and relation to a remote location.  The objective is to safely evaluate all persons from the building while coordinating with emergency officials and effectively communicating with families.

Severe Weather

  • In the event of a severe weather emergency, refuge for students, staff and visitors will be provided inside the building.

Suspended Schedule

  • In situations where the building hallways need to be clear (medical emergency, etc…), a Suspended Schedule will be used to keep all staff and students in their classroom or offices.

Safety Tips in an Emergency Situation

In the event of an emergency situation, we have outlined information below so families know what to do and what not to do to help keep students and staff safe.

Stay Calm and Stay Alert:

In the event of a school emergency, please remain calm and know that school staff and law enforcement are working together to keep your child safe. Staff training for emergency situations and drills are conducted on a regular basis to ensure everyone is aware of the safety protocols and guidelines. The Cove School  fully understands the importance of communication with families during an emergency and is committed to provide ongoing updates throughout the situation. Please rely on information directly from The Cove School rather than other sources that may contain misinformation and rumor.

Based on the situation, The Cove School may provide information via text, emails and phone calls using the ParentSquare system. In addition, we know that during a school emergency many of our students will call and/or text their parents/guardians. If this occurs, we ask that you stay calm and reassuring. Encourage your student to follow the directions of school staff.

Stay Away from the School:

We understand a parent or guardian’s desire to go to the school and the need to see your child during an emergency situation. However, arriving at the scene before it is secure can interfere with the emergency response team and potentially put you and your child in danger. Past school emergencies have shown that one of the greatest challenges is how to manage the number of parents and concerned citizens rushing to the scene. By rushing to the school, parents can unintentionally create traffic jams that may block emergency responders from assisting those in need. Families should not come to pick up their child unless given the direction to do so from The Cove School.

Keep Phone Lines Open

We ask that families do not call the school during an emergency. When parents or guardians call, that ties up phone lines that need to stay open for communication with emergency personnel and school officials. It also helps school staff to remain focused on the safety of students. The school will communicate any information with you as soon as possible via emails, phone calls and text messages.

Additionally, the police department will be leading the efforts to keep everyone safe during a school emergency and the 911 dispatch line must remain open for any other emergencies that could occur in the community. We request that families refrain from calling the police department or 911 directly. 

Check Your ParentSquare Settings

Please check your settings in Parentsquare to make sure your contact information is up-to-date for receiving emergency notifications. If you find that there is outdated or incorrect information, please reach out to The Cove School front office to have it updated.  You can verify individuals listed as an authorized pick-up person by speaking with the front desk.

Be Prepared With Your Photo ID

In the event of a school evacuation, The Cove School will follow a standard reunification plan to reunite students with their families. The school will communicate the reunification site information and other details to families. During a reunification, families and/or individuals listed as an authorized person to pick up your child should do the following:

  • Bring valid form of identification (ID)
  • Follow signage and parking directions of the reunification location
  • Check in with staff at the reunification site
  • Provide school personnel at the check-in area with a valid form of photo ID and the completed reunification form
  • Wait patiently as a Cove School staff member retrieves and escorts your student to you 

Please note that only approved adults with valid photo identification will be allowed to pick up students from the reunification location.

If you have any questions regarding our Safety and Security information, please contact Dr. Sally L. Sover at ssover@coveschool.org.