School Safety

The Wissahickon School District has a detailed emergency management plan that has been formulated to respond to a major catastrophe. Should an emergency or disaster condition ever arise in our area while school is in session, we want you to be assured that the schools have made preparations to respond effectively to such situations. In fact, public schools in Pennsylvania are built to meet stringent construction standards and they may even be safer than many private homes in the event of a natural disaster. 

During extreme emergencies, students will be released only at designated locations at the school or evacuation site. It is important that no other pickup point be utilized (e.g., do not go directly to your child’s classroom), as we need to be able to account for every child at all times. Please emphasize with your child the need to remain with school personnel until you arrive or somebody you authorize to pick up your child arrives. We ask for your patience and understanding in such situations as the dismissal process will take more time than normal.

The decision to keep students at school will be based upon whether or not it is safe to transport students in the area. In the event of an emergency that takes place during the time students are being picked up and transported TO SCHOOL, students will be kept on the bus, additional student pickups will cease, and the driver will proceed to the intended school (or another safe place) to await further instructions. Please note that any child who has not yet been picked up by the bus remains the responsibility of the parent/guardian (and please remember that an “empty house” can be a concern in such situations when the child returns home). In the event that an emergency occurs in the afternoon when students are on the bus FROM SCHOOL, the driver will make every attempt to continue delivering students to their homes. Should conditions prevent the driver from delivering students to their homes in the afternoon, the driver will deliver the students to the nearest school and await further instructions. The receiving school (if not the home school) will then communicate with the home school to inform them of the students’ location, and the home school will then reach out to each student’s parents or emergency contacts for pickup arrangements.

Please discuss these matters with your immediate family and authorized contacts. Thinking about emergencies such as these is not pleasant, but we take your child’s safety very seriously and we therefore attach a very high priority to being prepared for any and all emergencies. If you have any questions about the school’s emergency plan or procedures, please contact the building principal for further information. 

Your cooperation is necessary in any emergency, for both the safety of staff and students, and the expedient reunification with your child. Following the steps provided will help school officials, police officers, firefighters and other responders do their jobs and focus on the safety of all involved. To that end, during an emergency, parents/guardians are asked to please do the following:

1. Wait for information from the District. Read/listen to the district’s automated phone/text alerts and emails (“School Messenger”) which are currently used for inclement weather notifications. You can also check the district website (www.wsdweb.org) for more information. If students are to be kept at school, district communication sources will so report.
2. Try not to call the school. Telephone lines may be needed for emergency communication.
3. Do not go to the school, or evacuation site, until notified to do so.
4. Know that in the event of a serious emergency, students will be kept at their schools or evacuated to a pre-arranged alternate site. Snacks and water will be provided for extended situations. When the time comes to pick up students, only you or a responsible adult you have pre-identified (i.e., your child’s emergency contacts in Infinite Campus) will be permitted to pick up your child. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are added to Infinite Campus for each of your children in your household. Click here to review the instructions for how to add emergency contact information (these individuals should be marked as emergency contact for their relationship type—parents/guardians in the student’s household are always emergency contacts 1 and 2). Please be sure you consider the following criteria when you authorize another person to pick up your child at school:
   • They are 18 years of age or older
   • They are usually home during the day
   • They are known by your child
   • They are both aware of and able to assume this responsibility
   • They are within reasonable proximity to the school (i.e., calling somebody in New York to come pick a student here is not really a viable option)
5. Impress upon your child the need for them to follow directions of any school personnel in times of an emergency.

WSD staff uses the terms and procedures below to safely manage an emergency situation. Staff are trained in these protocols, and share the approach with students at the start of each school year. Drills are also conducted to help staff and students alike be as ready as possible for all emergencies. Parents/guardians are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these terms and discuss with their student(s).  

"INTRUDER ALERT": In response to a building intruder, our protocol incorporates a “Run-Hide-Resist” approach which is based on best practices from local and nationwide school security experts.  Staff members and students assess the situation and have the option of running away from the danger (if circumstances dictate) or hiding (locking of classroom door and hiding in the classroom). The “resist” option is used as a last resort (age appropriate tactics that can include use of barricades, projectiles, etc.).  

"HOLD in your room": All staff and students clear the hallways and remain in their rooms until instructed otherwise. Teachers will close and lock the classroom door. Normal activities can take place inside the classroom.

"STAY inside the building": All school exterior doors are locked and outside school activity is brought back inside the building because of a threat or potential threat located outside the school. Entry/exit is highly restricted. Normal activities can take place inside the building.

"EVACUATE": Students and staff leave the school building and move to a prearranged safe location (same procedure as fires/fire drills).

"SHELTER":  Shelter is used when there may be the potential for harm from extreme weather or hazardous materials outside the building. Action depends on the circumstance (e.g. if tornado, gather away from windows).

The Wissahickon School District utilizes a variety of safety and security equipment and resources. The list below highlights key measures; however, not all are included here in order to protect the effectiveness of our security practices.

• On staff security at WHS and WMS 
• Security cameras in all schools
• A mass notification system installed in all schools for emergency notification and critical communication during a time of crisis 
• Raptor ID system in all schools which checks visitors against national sexual offender databases and produces visitor badges with photos
• Electronic “key cards” at all buildings for access control
• Emergency procedures posted in all offices and classrooms
• Fire alarm systems installed in all schools
• Safe2Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
• Two-way radio communications in each building
• Individual building safety committees
• Monthly fire drills and other regularly scheduled safety drills in partnership with local first responders
• Monthly school safety meetings with the MCIU and their school safety specialists

Wissahickon Schools and the Police Departments of Ambler Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township and Whitpain Township are committed to a partnership that is designed to keep the children of the Wissahickon School District safe and secure at all times.

We encourage all families to review our Stranger Alert Procedures, listed below. 

• Stranger Alert Procedures - English
• Stranger Alert Procedures - Spanish
• Stranger Alert Procedures - Korean 

At Wissahickon, the safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority. We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Police Departments of Ambler Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township, and Whitpain Township, as together we share a commitment to keeping children safe in our schools and community.

As part of that commitment, we regularly review and update our Stranger Alert Procedures (outlined below). These procedures are designed to ensure a quick and coordinated response in the event of a safety concern, while keeping our community informed without creating unnecessary fear or anxiety.

Prevention and preparation are key. In our schools, teachers and staff consistently remind students about important safety practices—such as what to do if approached by a stranger and where to go for help. We encourage you, as parents and guardians, to have similar conversations at home. To support those discussions, refer to the “Student Safety Alert Information—Tips from Safety Experts” below which offers helpful reminders you can share with your child.

We know that when schools, families, and local law enforcement work together, we create the safest environment possible for our children. Thank you for partnering with us in this important responsibility.

Stranger Alert Procedures

1. Reporting Concerns: The Police Departments of Ambler, Lower Gwynedd, and Whitpainmay be notified of a potentially dangerous situation by parents/guardians, communitymembers, school officials, or law enforcement in neighboring areas. When reporting, pleaseshare any information you have—whether certain or uncertain—so the police can fullyinvestigate. After an alert is issued, we ask that families share only the confirmed detailsprovided by police to prevent confusion or misinformation.
2. Police Investigation: Upon receiving a report, police will respond quickly, investigatethoroughly, and consult with the Chief of Police to determine whether the Wissahickon schoolcommunity should be notified.
3. Communication with Schools: If notification is warranted, the Chief of Police will contact theSuperintendent of Schools and provide details about the incident, including a description of theindividual(s) involved and any other important information.
4. Notifying Families: The Superintendent will communicate with school staff and share a“Stranger Alert” with families using the district’s electronic communication system (email). Ifnecessary, we will also use the district’s emergency alert system (phone calls/text messages).

The Role of Families: Your role as parents/caregivers is essential. Reassuring your child, reviewing safe behaviors, and reinforcing the importance of reporting concerns are among the most effective precautions we can take. A strong partnership among schools, families, and law enforcement is the foundation of keeping our children safe. We deeply appreciate your support in this effort.

Student Safety Alert Information - Tips from Safety Experts

Younger Students

• Never accept rides from or talk to strangers.
• If a driver pulls to the curb to ask directions, avoid getting too close.
• Know how to use the telephone and how to call for the police using 911.
• If a strange vehicle is stopping near you, turn and walk in the opposite direction.  The driver will have to turn around or backup to follow.
• Do not take candy from a stranger and never approach a stranger to see his nice puppy dog in the car.
• If you think you have been followed home, avoid going to your house.  Instead, go to a neighbor’s house that is near home or to the nearest business.
• PARENTS:  Set up a code word with your children in the event of an emergency, during which a friend or neighbor may have to pick up your child/children somewhere other than at school.  Also, know which neighbors are home during the day and notify them of this contingency plan.  Your child should know the code word and understand its importance, and he/she should be prepared to respond to anyone who knows the code word.  Make the word meaningful to your family so a real stranger would not be able to figure it out.

Older Students

• If a stranger does approach in a car and then leaves, try to remember the license plate number of the motor vehicle and report this information to a parent or to the police immediately.
• Do not assume it was nothing.  Report any suspicious activity.  If you think ANYTHING is out of the ordinary, report it to the police by calling 911 immediately.
• Be aware of your surroundings and do not be consumed by your cell phone, tablet or any other electronic device.

Information Needed By Police

• Vehicle license number and Make/Model/Color
• Gender and race of stranger
• Approximate age, weight and height of stranger
• Clothing worn by stranger
• Length and color of stranger’s hair
• Any unusual marks, scars, tattoos, jewelry, hat worn, glasses, etc.
• Last direction of travel of stranger (either on foot or by motor vehicle).

NOTE:  ALL children need to know that police officers are their friends, but unfortunately, strangers sometimes purport to be the police and may have with them identification that could fool even an adult.  If a police officer needs to speak with your child, in the majority of these cases, the police officer will be in a fully marked squad car with the name of your local community displayed and the officer will be in uniform.  The police will understand the child may not want to speak with the officer, for whatever reason, especially if the officer is in an unmarked squad car and is in civilian dress.  In these cases, the plain-clothes officer will always try to get a uniformed officer to interact with the child once contact is established.