Notification
Closings or delayed starts due to inclement weather or an emergency will be announced through PARENT ALERT, a feature of the FACTS Family Portal. For weather-related delays and closures, we will send text messages through PARENT ALERT and post notices to the FRCS website (there is a link to the notice page in the footer of all pages). For other emergencies we will use whichever PARENT ALERT option is most appropriate for the circumstances. It is imperative that all parents log in to the Family Portal and regularly update their contact information for emergency purposes, as this is the most immediate method of notification.
Announcements through the following outlets may also be used as appropriate:
- FRCS social media
- Messages on our website (links are available on the bottom of every page of our website, or go directly to the inclement weather page)
- Email from the school
- Major news networks
If weather becomes increasingly bad during the course of the day, parents are permitted to pick up their children early. Students and parents should refrain from calling any staff member at home to see if a cancellation has been made.
If an emergency communication is sent to you, we encourage you to listen to or read the entire message before calling the school with questions. We try to include all pertinent information in the communications so that you know exactly what is happening. Often the front desk personnel, teachers, and Administrators are busy implementing the safeguards and protocols for these types of situations and may not be able to answer the questions of all parents. We do encourage you to call if you have questions not covered by the communication, but please do not call without having first listened to or read the communication sent. If someone doesn’t answer the phone right away, it likely means that they are attending to the situation to ensure the safety of students and staff, since that is their first priority. Be calm, and try again.
Lockout or Lockdown
If the school is on lockout or lockdown NO ONE is permitted to enter or leave the school or admin offices. This is for the safety of our students and staff, and it is mandatory that everyone comply. A lockout means that all outside perimeter doors are locked and no one is allowed to leave or enter the school campus or offices; movement within the school is still allowed, though students may be asked to move away from windows in some situations. A lockdown means that all outside perimeter doors and all interior doors are locked—students are locked in classrooms and office personnel are locked in their offices. No one is allowed to leave or enter the campus, and movement within the campus is severely limited—only emergency responders and designated staff are allowed to move through the campus. (Note: Business space tenants are not a part of the school campus and may or may not observe lockout or lockdown protocols.)
Drills
Emergency drills such as fire, tornado, intruder, and lockdown are held on a regular basis throughout the school year. Drills are an important part of our overall safety plan to help prepare students in the event of an emergency. When a drill (or actual event) occurs, students must follow instructions given by their teacher as outlined in the Emergency Handbook located in each classroom’s Crisis Box.
In addition, all classrooms have emergency instructions and evacuation maps posted near entryways.
Communication
If the school is put on lockdown or lockout for any reason, parents will be sent communication on the same day the event occurred. Generally the communication will include basic information about the event, such as what caused the school to go on lockdown or lockout, the times of the event, and why and when the lockdown or lockout was lifted. Decisions about any other details included in these emergency communications are made by the Leadership of FRCS. This includes our Head of School and Principals, with input from the Facilities Team when appropriate.
Parents are not generally notified when there is a drill on campus. These are a normal school activity and are part of the school’s emergency preparedness so should not concern parents.
