<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Dear Independence Hawks:</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Happy new school year! We are excited to welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year, and we look forward to serving you and your children as we continually strive to provide a safe learning environment for everyone at school. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">The safety of your child and all children in our school, as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel, is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">As part of our commitment to school safety measures, please be advised that we will be conducting various drills throughout the school year. This letter is to help you understand the importance of safety preparedness in our school, as well as to understand each type of drill.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">The students and staff of our school will be practicing 4 primary emergency drills each year. They are “FIRE DRILLS”; “LOCKDOWN DRILLS”; “SECURE DRILLS”, and “EVACUATION DRILLS”. Each type of drill is explained below.</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Fire Drills</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Schools serving HS students will conduct a Fire Drill each semester that school is in session. This is a Fire Code requirement as well as a requirement for all California public schools. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the fire alarm is sounded. By practicing, they will know what to do and how to do it.</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">LockDOWN Drills</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">The school will conduct one Lockdown Drill each semester during the school year. A lockdown is initiated when there is a threat of violence or harm to stakeholders identified ON campus, and is designed to prevent the perpetrator(s) from entering any occupied campus areas. During a lockdown, students are to remain in the locked classrooms or designated safe locations at all times.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Secure Drills</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">The school will conduct one secure Drill each semester during the school year. This type of drill will secure the exterior of the school building and safely shelter all students, staff, and visitors inside. Secure is initiated when there is danger OFF campus and is designed to prevent any harm to stakeholders by locking the perimeter doors and gates so no one is able to leave, nor enter, while the incident off campus is still active. </b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Earthquake Drills</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">During an Earthquake Drill, students and staff will practice the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) actions of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” until it is safe to move. Once the shaking has stopped, students will be safely escorted along a designated evacuation route to one of our predetermined evacuation sites. At the conclusion of the drill, all students will be escorted back to the building and their classrooms.</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">For the safety of everyone involved and to maintain order, we respectfully ask that you abide by the following during these drills:</b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Do not come to the school campus.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Do not call the school offices (as they will be busy with the drill or actual emergency).</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Do not contact students or staff members via cell phone or social media (as they will be busy with the drill or actual emergency).</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Please make sure that your contact information is up to date at all times so that you can be reached without delay in the event of an emergency.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">In the event of an actual earthquake and evacuation, you will receive notification on where to pick up your child as soon as practicable.</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe </b><b>place to learn and work. Attached is a schedule of the drills this year</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">If you have any questions regarding any of these Safety Drills or other safety concerns, please contact our school office. Thank you for all that you do to support the safety of our school community.</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Sincerely</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Eric Harper, Assistant Principal</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-54eda908-7fff-0fe5-e6be-152ad50006c4">Independence High School</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/AQTc3sC0ZRmUBGTj2zR3nQ~~/AAAAARA~/pvsZvBLhD7w-9fO7p0My8oc8ExKeBtErLFqnES4JBwRO4O4u2XXRTAkONwUYgnXtlRdo72ehlzunRqZUu_GfAS4J7tyktv31Z9wxKYldLT584dTbW9E4CUCVM-tpfzd3e6S8b7LvkXG0MSC7UlS5IQntoik2Gn3uM4QGNcBJ6nDRh9S1xQWr7RqIti7zOkVbGqg9GUzsKB5ElUCw1FE3Ggn-1TSWR94huAaU3IOVxAY~">26-27 Beginning of School Year Drill Message to Families and Staff.pdf</a> </p>
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