General information

Every month, students and staff will practice evacuation procedures and safety protocol in the event of a disaster. Beginning in September, students are coached on how to properly evacuate their classrooms and walk calmly and quietly to safety. As best as is possible, we try to cluster grade levels together in our evacuation “safe zone” to be able to quickly identify classrooms that may have evacuated to another area due to their immediate location.

How we prepare and organize as a staff

At the beginning of the school year, staff members volunteer for various branches of the school’s Emergency Response Team including Care & Shelter, Search & Rescue, Medical & First Aid, and Hazard Control. Staff members are trained to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities until trained assistance arrives. All staff members currently on the Medical & First Aid branch have updated First Aid and CPR certification. Additionally, Sycamore is working in conjunction with Ventura County Fire Department to provide detailed training for our Search & Rescue team members. During all drills, teachers take attendance and report their attendance to the Command Center. The Command Center is the communication hub between all of Sycamore Canyon’s Emergency Response Teams. It is through the Communication Center that administration will orchestrate the proper protocols necessary to maintain a safe and secure environment until trained professionals arrive on scene.

What you as parents need to know

It is essential that in the event of a real disaster, you follow the directions of the school personnel. In moments of calm, this seems like a simple request, but in times of chaos, it is imperative that cool heads prevail. Students will only be released to adults listed on the emergency cards and must be released through the channels we have established here on campus. This is for your student’s safety! We practice the drills on a monthly basis, always adding a new and necessary level to our disaster drill. We firmly believe that the more we practice, the more comfortable we will feel should an actual disaster actually strike.

In partnership

As always, should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We want you to feel as comfortable as we do. Please rest assured that your students are our most precious commodity. Thank you for working with us in putting safety into practice.

Emergency Preparedness Links:

City of Thousand Oaks

Ventura County Fire Department

Thousand Oaks Police Department

Ventura County Sheriff