From the Deputy Principal

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A reminder about our Safety and Emergency Procedures at Redlands

We advised parents at the beginning of Term 1 about our approach to Emergency Management. Redlands has an established Emergency Planning Committee, 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. Our first priority is always safety.

Please be assured that staff instructions are given in the interests of safety. Our teachers and support staff have specific duties and responsibilities, whether this be on car line, at bus stops, on Reception, during break times, during classes and before and after school. We would ask for our community’s consideration and cooperation in this vital area.

Our Conditions of Enrolment clearly state our expectations:

• Parents, guardians and carers are required to observe School security procedures for the protection of students from direct contact with those outside the School during school hours and are only to make contact through the School Reception office on each campus.
• Parents agree not to interfere in any way with the conduct, management or administration of the School.

Unfortunately, we have had recent examples of parents disregarding instructions given by Redlands staff, parking illegally, responding aggressively or ignoring requests by staff or North Sydney Council rangers to move vehicles to safer positions, and in one case, blocking the pathway of an emergency vehicle. Situations like this are not only very stressful for the parents concerned, but they compromise student safety and prevent staff from being able to do their jobs safely. We expect understanding and cooperation from all parents, as we do of all staff and students.

Site Access

No person may enter or leave the site during an evacuation or lockdown, whether it is a drill or a real situation; this includes students, staff, parent visitors and volunteers. If you are 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 by staff to enter the site.

Ms Sarah McGarry