LOCKDOWN
Schools are required to practice a school lockdown a minimum of two per year and should
involve all of the occupants in a school. (Suggest 1 in the fall and a 2nd in the spring). Police
must be informed when practicing lockdown procedures. The number to call is 986-6222.
Preparation and practice for a Lockdown are vital. Prior to introducing this procedure into your
school it is strongly recommended that the parents be given ‘Fair Notice’ about the drill by
sending out a letter to each household. Items for consideration for the letter include rationale
for Lockdowns, date of the drill and general drill procedures. Schools may choose to send this
letter out annually or after the Lockdown drill becomes a common practice they may simply
remind parents about Lockdown drills via the school newsletter (See sample enclosed letters).
Procedures for lockdowns should be shared with all staff and students at the beginning of the
school year. These procedures should also be reviewed before each drill. It is recommended
that a copy of the procedures be made accessible to Substitutes. Consider placing the
Lockdown procedures in each classroom in a highly visible location. Any staff away from the
school with their class should be contacted if possible. Direct them to take their students to
the evacuation site or other designated location. Substitute teachers are to be provided with
this emergency information in sub folders.
An effective Lockdown requires good communication. The P.A. system should be heard in all
parts of the school including the playground, and other areas adjacent to the school. An equally
critical point in developing procedures for the Lockdown is a complete understanding of the
physical layout of the school. Areas that can be secured must be identified. In most schools
conventional classrooms with doors that can be locked are the norm. Occupants in those areas
that can’t be locked must re-locate to areas that can be secured. Occupants must be aware of
these areas and must know to which location they re-locate in the event of a Lockdown.
Open area concepts pose particular challenges to an effective lockdown. In Open Area schools
occupants may have to re-locate within the school to areas such as gyms, music rooms,
libraries, computer labs, Science labs, washrooms or storage areas that can be locked. Where
possible, the installation of doors with locks might be a consideration.
Lockdowns will take two forms depending on the specific nature of the incident; Full Lockdown
and Shelter in Place. For example, a Full Lockdown would be initiated in the event of an
intruder with a weapon on school property. Shelter in Place would be initiated in the event that
the school has been notified of a potential threat outside of the building for example, a
chemical spill in the area. Each is described below.
Lockdown Procedures
In an emergency situation requiring a lockdown (e.g. weather-related events, school intrusion,
hazardous material leaks, etc.) the following procedures are to be followed.
NOTE: procedures in some schools will be slightly different in order to address the specific
needs of each school and the level of students. For example, Middle and Senior Years students
in washrooms or unsupervised areas would be required to stay in place, while Early Years
students may be directed to the closest classroom. Additionally lockdown procedures for open
concept schools may be different than fully enclosed schools. These are general procedures.
**Please insert your school specific procedures here. At a minimum your lockdown
procedure should include the following 3 examples (Full lockdown, shelter in place and lunch
hour lockdown and your recovery. Once you’ve inserted your procedures please delete the
examples:
Examples:
GENERAL LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES:
1. Designated school/office personnel will announce that there is a school lockdown in
effect.
2. The announcement: “A SCHOOL LOCKDOWN IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE SECURE THE
BUILDING. FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.” The
principal or designate will either announce over the public address system “A SCHOOL
LOCKDOWN IS NOW IN EFFECT”, or when appropriate, implement a quiet lockdown by
going from class to class to initiate the lockdown.
3. School Office Personnel will call 911 and notify the Board Office and Feeder School(s) in
order to activate the Board Office phone tree.
4. Staff will direct students to move into a safe place away from windows/doors.
5. Staff should close the door of the room they are in and turn out the lights. If possible,
lock the door.
6. Where classrooms are located next to washrooms, staff should watch for students
leaving the washroom and open the door and summon them into the classroom.
7. Staff will have the students sit quietly where they are NOT visible. Students are not to
use cell phones.
8. Staff and Students will wait patiently and quietly until they receive the “ALL CLEAR”
from the designated school/office personnel and wait for further instructions. Note: at
this time the “all clear” should be done in person by the principal or designate. The
PA system should not be used.
9. Lockdown procedures take precedence over fire bells/alarms.
FULL LOCKDOWN - Intruder with a Weapon in the School:
1. A Staff member that observes an intruder on school property with a weapon should
immediately report it to the office. The location and description of the intruder are vital.
2. An administrator or designate will initiate the Lockdown over the P.A. system. Initiate
the Lockdown with a command rather than a code. Plain language announcements
instead of codes are used so that every staff member, student, and substitute teacher
knows what is expected to take place immediately. The Command might be. “We are in
a Lockdown. Initiate Lockdown Procedures.” (repeat same to ensure the message has
been heard)
3. The police should be notified immediately by the office using 911. The Superintendent’s
department must also be notified.
4. Immediately direct all students, staff and visitors into nearest classroom or secured
space. (Students and staff must be made aware of the locations of the rooms that can
be secured)
5. Students that are outside but in the general vicinity of the school should not enter the
school and should re-locate to a pre-determined site
6. Lock your classroom or office door. Before closing the door carefully check the halls and
summon passersby into the refuge area until the hallway is clear.
7. Shut the lights off and close blinds where possible. Move all occupants in the room away
from the doors and windows.
8. Keep the occupants quiet so as not to attract attention and to be able to hear
announcements over the P. A. system.
9. Once closed, DO NOT open your door for anyone. (The person knocking at your door
may be the intruder!)
10. If the fire alarm is activated during a lockdown DO NOT leave your room unless directed
to do so by the principal or designate in person. The fire alarm will need to be deactivated in order for the PA system to be audible.
11. Ensure that no one uses a cell phone or telephone during the lockdown. The PA system
can be used to communicate information back to the office such as the movements of
the intruder.
12. Stay in the room until directed differently. An ‘ALL CLEAR’ message will be given over
the P. A. system from the designated school/office personnel and wait for further
instructions once the hazardous situation has passed. Note: at this time the “all clear”
should be done in person by the principal or designate. The PA system should not be
used.
Note: If the intruder with a weapon is in the building the exterior door(s) that is/are open
during the normal operating hours is/are to remain unlocked to allow access by the City of
Winnipeg Emergency Responders.
SHELTER IN PLACE - The school is notified of a potential threat outside of the school
An administrator or designate will announce Shelter in Place over the P.A. system with the
following instructions.
1. All students, staff and visitors, including those outside the school such as on the
playground, are to be directed into nearest classroom or secured space.
2. Lock your classroom or office door. Before closing the door carefully check the halls and
summon passersby into the refuge area until the hallway is clear.
3. All exterior doors are to be locked immediately.
4. The Superintendent’s department must be notified.
5. Classroom instruction can proceed as normal.
6. An administrator or designate will control all movement (if any) from class to class.
Move on announcements only. Schools with a bell system will need to de-activate the
bells.
7. If the fire alarm is activated during a Shelter in Place DO NOT leave your room unless
directed to do so over the P. A. system in person by the principal or designate. The PA
system should not be used.
8. The fire alarm will need to be de-activated in order for the P.A. system to be audible.
9. An ‘ALL CLEAR’ message will be given in person by the principal or designate over the P.
A. system once the hazardous situation has passed.
LOCKDOWN DURING THE LUNCH HOUR:
The lunch hour poses particular challenges in terms of an efficient and effective lockdown
procedure given that most students and many teachers are not in classrooms. Once again, this
procedure would be very site-specific. Planning this procedure requires knowledge of the
layout of the school and an analysis of how the school is used at the lunch hour. This analysis
would need to determine where students and staff are located at that time and would highlight
areas that could be secured. Focus will need to be placed on those areas that can’t be secured
and would therefore need to be evacuated, for example open areas and playgrounds. Many of
the procedures outlined in the Full Lockdown and the Shelter in Place can be incorporated into
your plan for a Lunch Hour Lockdown.
The following questions might be useful in developing the Lunch Hour Lockdown:
i. Generally how many staff members are on school property at that time? Where might they
be situated?
ii.
Is the pattern of activity over the duration of a Lunch Hour consistent or does it change
after a period of time? For example, do all students meet in a lunch room for the first half
of the lunch hour then proceed to the playground?
iii.
What activities go on in the school and where are they located?
iv.
How do you re-locate students/staff from open areas/non-secured areas to secured areas?
v.
Do staff members have keys to the secured areas?
vi.
Are the students and staff aware of their roles during a lockdown?
vii.
Have you practiced a Lunch Hour lockdown? If a drill is not feasible, then how can this
information be conveyed to all the occupants in preparation for such an event.
RECOVERY - Procedures once “ALL Clear” signal has been given:
After a critical event the following should be considered:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Assess the situation – Is everyone accounted for, Are they safe?
Attendance taken – verify with school office
Monitor the emotional impact of the crisis on students, staff and the community.
Enlist the support of the PTSD Crisis Response Team
Ensure all communication with the public/media/division schools should go through the
Superintendent or designate.
6. Debrief with Staff and Students. Provide student services/clinical support if necessary.
7. Ensure Serious Incident Form is sent to Superintendent.
8. Return to the “business of learning” as quickly as possible understanding that recovery
will take time.
9. Restore the school to its original state.
10. Call a meeting with all staff members to share pertinent information regarding the
incident.
11. A letter should be sent home to inform the community.
12. De-brief the incident with the school’s Emergency Response Team. Capture the lessons
learned and incorporate this into your Emergency Response Plan.
The following action plan must be reviewed with staff and students:
School Lockdown
All students are to remain in class. Students in the hallways are to immediately enter the
nearest open classroom. Teachers, lock your classroom doors. Ignore a fire alarm. No one,
under any circumstances, is to leave the classroom until further notice.
Class Change in Progress
All students and teachers report immediately to your next class. Teachers, be at your
classroom door and lock as soon as the students have arrived. Ignore fire alarm. No one, under
any circumstances, is to leave the classroom until further notice.
Before School, During Recess or Lunch and After School
Students in the hallways are to immediately enter the nearest open classroom. Students
outside of their classroom are to immediately return to your class. Students in the gym are to
report immediately to the girls change room. Teachers lock your classroom doors. Ignore fire
alarm. No one, under any circumstances, is to leave the classroom until further notice.
Classroom teachers are to do the following:
 Clear all hallways without delay.
 Hurry students into the closest unlocked classrooms, office or storage room. If you have
care and control of a student, keep him/her.
 Lock the door, turn off the lights and close the blinds/drapes.
 If the door will not lock, quickly pile desks and other heavy moveable items to deter entry.
 Have students sit quietly where they are not visible either from the door or outside
windows.
 Try to maintain calm and silence.
 Do not use the intercom.
 If you have access to a cellular telephone, use it only to contact emergency services. Forbid
students use of cellular telephones.
 Do not leave the room until a credible person informs you that the danger has passed and
advises you on how to safely exit the school.
 Once you and students in your care have exited the school, stay with them until you have all
been taken to a secure alternate location.
 Remain available as requested to speak with police investigators.


Do not speak with the media during the course of the police investigation.
Make sure that you use the personal support services that will be available to assist you in
coping with your normal and natural response to such a horrific event.
Note: copies of samples letters, etc. for the lockdown drills can be found in the Emergency
Response Guide for Schools:
- Lockdown drill - letter to parents
- Lockdown drill - notice to staff
- Lockdown drill - procedures for students
- Lockdown drill - procedures for staff
- Lockdown drill - preparation checklist
- Lockdown drill - supervisors’ report