At Bennett Elementary, we work hard to keep our school family informed, which includes knowing what to expect. Throughout the year, the following communication channels are how we stay connected:  

• Parent Portal and ParentSquare for real-time updates
• Main Office phone line 845-657-2354 
• Email communication
• Bi-monthly newsletters
• School website
• Regular team meetings

Communication also includes understanding what to expect during a threat or an actual emergency. Please read and understand our emergency terminology and what each term means.

• Shelter-in-Place:  Used to shelter students and staff inside the building.
  • For example, if a tornado were to occur outside the school, we would call a shelter-in-place. 
• Hold-in-Place:  Used to limit the movement of students and staff in the building while dealing with short-term emergencies.
  • For example, if a student were having a medical issue in the hallway and emergency services needed to get through, we would call a hold-in-place to avoid unnecessary commotion in the hallway. This has the added benefit of protecting the privacy of the impacted party.
• Evacuate:  Used to evacuate students and staff from the building. 
  • For example, if a pipe were to burst in the school, we would evacuate everyone to a predetermined off-site location. 
• Lockout:  Used to secure school buildings and grounds during incidents that pose an imminent concern outside of the school. During lockout, students and staff cannot leave or enter the building, but instruction continues as normal. 
  • For example, if police were looking for a suspect in the area, the schools would go into a lockout. 
• Lockdown: Used to secure school buildings and grounds during incidents that pose an immediate threat of violence in or around the school. Staff follow specific protocol to make their classrooms and areas secure, and to keep students safe and calm. 
  • For example, if a person has a weapon on school grounds, we would call a lockdown. 

Our teachers and staff are trained in these protocols and practice them with students gently and age-appropriately. We want children to feel secure and prepared, not scared.

How You Can Help:

• Keep your contact information updated
• Talk to your children about safety in a calm, reassuring way
• Trust our trained staff to handle any situation

In the unlikely event of a school emergency, we understand parents will be concerned and anxious. We want to be crystal clear about how we'll communicate and what we need from our school family.

Our Communication Commitment

 During any actual or perceived emergency situation, we will:

• Send official updates through email
• Post verified information on ParentSquare
• Provide timely, accurate information as soon as possible

Here's what we need from you.

Please do not :

• Come to the school building
• Attempt to contact your child directly
• Call the school phone lines
• Spread unverified information on social media

Our top priority is student and staff safety. When an emergency occurs, we need clear communication channels, unobstructed access for emergency responders, and the ability to put our full focus on the issue at hand. Your patience and space can help our staff manage the real or perceived emergency situation more effectively, and helps us ensure everyone’s safety.  We have carefully developed these emergency protocols with one goal: protecting our school community. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.