October 5th, 2015

It has been mistaken a number of times today that Bluevale is in “Lockdown” when in fact we have been in a “Hold and Secure”.  There is a distinction, however, between a lockdown and a hold and secure.  No matter what, the key element in both is the safety of staff and students.  In a lockdown there is a specific, direct threat to staff and students.  It may be a direct threat in the facility or a direct threat very near the facility.  In that case we would go into a lockdown which would have the exterior doors locked as well as interior school doors.  Students would stay in their classes in a strategic manner.  There would be no movement in the hallways or classrooms until the threat was over.  In a hold and secure there is a threat as well but it is in the community and not directly involving the school.  In a hold and secure we lock the outside doors as a precaution but within the school classes continue and students move from period to period.  For instance, a phys ed. class scheduled to be outside would be rescheduled inside and at the end of the period students would move to their next class.  With the exception of doors being locked and students and staff not being allowed to leave the school, all things within the school are business as usual.  Hopefully this explanation will explain the key differences between a lockdown and a hold and secure.  Mark Hunniford, Principal