From the Deputy Principal

Emergency Management at Redlands

At Redlands, our first priority is safety. In the coming weeks we will be conducting Lockdown and Evacuation Drills on both Sydney campuses – Junior and Senior – as part of our ongoing Emergency Training procedures. As you are aware, we have an Emergency Planning Committee in place, we have extensive emergency management plans in place, we train our students and staff, we conduct planned drills periodically and reflect and analyse when unplanned evacuations occur. This information is to remind you of our existing plan and approach.

Our Plans

The School works with emergency management specialists to develop and implement safety procedures, and the goals of drills throughout the year are to improve our ability to protect students, save lives, and reduce injuries, in the event of an emergency situation. These practice drills allow us to evaluate our emergency response plans and improve our response skills. This year, we have incorporated additional measures into our plans in the event that we may need staff or students to shelter in place. This measure may be used in circumstances where we would wish to manage staff and student movement around the campus – like being advised of a confirmed COVID-19 case during the School day.

We do not generally announce in advance whether a lockdown or evacuation is a planned exercise. It is vital for the safety of our students, staff and any campus visitors that they are very familiar with our processes and can perform the required steps to complete a safe lockdown or evacuation without forewarning. In the case of younger children, we practise these more frequently and in varying formats so that they are not unduly alarmed.

Across the School, students have been reminded this week about what to do in the case of a lockdown or an evacuation and all new students are provided with this information when they start at the School. This information is also contained in the front section of the Student Planner.

Communication

We are so grateful for the patience and consideration parents and carers have shown through some difficult circumstances and changing arrangements across the first part of this year. A reminder of the following key points around emergency communication: 

  • It is essential that students do not use their mobile phone during a lockdown or an evacuation.
  • We would usually not communicate to parents that we are undertaking a lockdown or evacuation unless it resulted in a serious emergency requiring a longer disruption to the School day.
  • If an emergency situation does continue to disrupt the day, the School will communicate to parents via SMS if it is safe to do so.
  • In the case of an emergency situation requiring parents to collect their children, the School will communicate with parents conveying specific details about pickup arrangements.

Site Access

No person may enter or leave the site during an emergency situation, including students, staff, parent visitors or helpers. If you are already onsite during an evacuation or lockdown, you must follow the instructions of the staff, in particular the wardens (wearing coloured safety helmets). If you arrive whilst an evacuation or lockdown is in place, please wait patiently until it has concluded and it is deemed safe to enter the site.

Please talk with your child about the reason for these drills. Our goal, while practising important safety procedures, is to be sure all students feel safe and confident in how to respond. If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher (Junior Campus) or Tutor (Senior Campus), or send through to feedback@redlands.nsw.edu.au.

Community Code of Conduct

One of the recognised, highly valued and very special aspects of Redlands is our inclusive and cohesive community.

During the past 18 months, the School has been working in conjunction with the RPFA to develop a Community Code of Conduct, designed to provide guidance and to ensure mutual understanding of our shared expectations of community behaviour and interactions.

Sincere thanks to the members of the RPFA who contributed significantly to the development of this important document (which can be found on the Policies page of Redlands Pulse).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Deputy Principal