An Emergency Reunification Drill allows us to practise and review our procedures for an emergency situation where we might need to close the school at short notice and send all students/ākonga home. Examples of scenarios where this might happen are if there is heavy rain and a high risk of flooding, or if we have a plumbing emergency and don't have running water or flushing toilets for a period of time. In these types of situations we need to reunite ākonga with their whānau to ensure they remain safe.
What you need to know
Thursday 26 March @ 2pm an alert will be sent to you via HERO to advise you that there is an Emergency (drill) and that you are to come and pick your child/ren up from school.
You or any of the people who are listed on HERO as an emergency caregiver can come to school to pick up your ākonga.
NOTE: No child will be able to leave with an adult who is not a primary caregiver or an emergency contact listed on HERO.
The person coming to pick up will go to the child's whanau space and then the kaiako/teachers will check you and your child off the list and you will be able to take them home.
What you need to do
Make sure that your emergency contact details are up to date in HERO. If you have changed any details or wish to add or change any of your emergency contacts please email Rachel office@amesbury.school.nz as soon as possible so that your details can be updated.
Put Thursday 26 March - 2pm in your calendar as an early pick up or make arrangements with your emergency contact to pick up your child/ren.
We appreciate that this will mean that whānau plans will need to change and that this can be difficult at times. Please understand that this is a really important drill to ensure that in a "real emergency" our procedures and processes are as effective and efficient as possible to ensure the safety of your children. The only way we can trial and review is by holding a reunification drill.
Thank you for your understanding and for your patience on the day, as it will take time to systematically reunite ākonga with whānau in a safe and monitored way.
More specific details about pick up points and processes will be sent closer to the time.
If you have any questions please email jenny@amesbury.school.nz.
