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Safety First: Fall 2026

Posted Date: 10/28/26 (05:00 PM)
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Header for newsletter called Safety First

Our Plan: Prepared, Not Scared

Fall 2026

 

Chehalis Safety Plans: Active, Ongoing, Evolving and Thorough

News about violent incidents at other schools can be deeply upsetting for students, families and staff. It is also natural for parents and caregivers to have questions about the safety of our schools. In the Chehalis School District, our plans for preventing and responding to emergency situations is active, ongoing, evolving and thorough:
  • We have two full-time Security & Safety Officers who are present in every building, building relationships with students and staff and evaluating our buildings' safety procedures
  • We train our staff and students on what to do in an emergency, not once, not a couple times, multiple times and in multiple settings every year
  • We work with local first responders and stay current on safety laws and recommendations to make sure our procedures and plans reflect best practices
  • We recently added the Emergent 3 (E3) system to our safety tools for staff. This internal emergency communication system allows our staff to share information internally during an emergency and directly links us to emergency dispatch, making us compliant with Alyssa's Law. 
  • Our safety planning covers every staff member, every student, every building and every program and we are always re-evaluating to ensure the most thorough coverage possible. 
An infographic defining the ALICE safety protocol with icons and text for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.

Do You Know ALICE? Our Students Do!

Navigate360's ALICE program is emergency response training use in the Chehalis School District. ALICE IS:
  • Options-based: this recognized approach for addressing violent emergencies teaches students and staff to evaluate what is happening and react using the ALICE level they believe is most appropriate.
  • Age-appropriate: ALICE offers K-12 instructional materials customized to children’s age, cognitive, behavioral, and developmental ability levels. teachers at every level are supported with lesson plans and visual aids that help them introduce critical safety concepts in ways students can understand and retain.
  • Trauma-Informed: ALICE uses the four R’s of trauma-informed decision making: Realize the effects of trauma, Recognize the signs of trauma, Respond to students using trauma-informed practices, and Resist re-traumatization during drills to ensure preparedness while minimizing anxiety and supporting student emotional well-being during safety training.
  • For the Whole Family: The skills students learn through ALICE can help them respond safely during a violent incident in any setting—not just at school. Invite your student to teach you about ALICE so they can reinforce their learning while helping your family prepare. Their knowledge could make a meaningful difference in an emergency.
A chart comparing the safety procedures and protocols for standard lockdown versus modified lockdown in schools.

Lockdown vs. Modified Lockdown

During an emergency, we will communicate critical information to you through a ParentSquare tool called a Smart Alert. This tool can communicate via text, recorded voice message and email, whichever reaches you most quickly.

Alerts you might receive include an announcement that a school or campus is on "Lockdown" or "Modified Lockdown." It is important to know the difference between the two so you can understand what is happening during an emergency at our schools. Here's a handy guide to help you understand what these terms mean:

LOCKDOWN
  • A threat is inside the building or a threat outside poses a threat inside.
  • Both interior and exterior doors will be locked.
  • Students and staff will use ALICE training to decide the safest response.
  • Please do not call or come to the building unless directed to do so. Information will be shared as quickly as possible via ParentSquare.
MODIFIED LOCKDOWN
  • A threat or incident is outside the building.
  • Exterior doors will be locked while the school day proceeds as normal inside.
  • Please do not call or come to the building unless directed to do so. Information will be shared as quickly as possible via ParentSquare.

9th Graders Learn Online Safety

Thank you to Gabe Stajduhar of the Department of Homeland Security for sharing his expertise in online safety with out Class of 2030 students in October. 

This presentation included information about developing good habits to keep themselves safe online, spotting the warning signs of online danger and what to do if something goes wrong.