Emergencies

In Case of any Emergency, Call:

Campus Security: 202-939-8812 (x8812)
Switchboard: 202-939-8800 (x8800)
Main Office: 202-939-8848 (x8848)

After Hours, Call:

Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio (202-939-8812, x8812) or
Trey Holloway (202-939-8821) or
Susan Epps (cell: 202-577-8928) or
Marjo Talbott (cell: 202-494-5719; home: 202-686-4130)

Give your name, location, and nature of the emergency

In any case of emergency the Main Office will make sure that the appropriate division director has been notified of the situation and vice versa.

Campus Security Reminders

Our students thrive best when they are able to freely travel across our campus between their classes and activities; therefore, our Board of Trustees regularly reviews Maret's security procedures and determines how to balance the needs of both a safe and open campus.

Please be assured that the security program at Maret provides the School with strong protection 24/7.

Surveillance cameras are installed at strategic locations across campus.
The Buildings & Grounds team, together with our contracted on-campus security personnel, continually monitor all activity on campus.
Maret’s gates are locked during nighttime hours.
From the completion of morning drop-off until the beginning of afternoon pick-up, all traffic flow will be through the East Gates only (near the Swiss embassy) and will be screened by our security officers.
Outside visitors and vendors will be required to check in with the Receptionist in Woodley and wear name tags while on campus.
The Receptionist and our security officers will monitor the pedestrian gates (near the Cottage and at the Garfield Street steps) via closed circuit cameras and buzz in our community members.
In cases of emergency, Maret has an extensive 2-way radio system to ensure that all key offices in the School can maintain direct communications at all times. Plus, our emergency messaging system is always in place to send parents/guardians emails and text messages, and to post on our website as needed.
Maret’s comprehensive crisis management plan is always in place, and our Emergency Guidelines continue to be in line with recommendations from FEMA, the Red Cross, NAIS, phone companies, security firms, and other federal and D.C. Government agencies.

Safety Precautions

The following list summarizes a number of precautions offered by the DC Metropolitan Police Department.

Plan your outing. Always tell a family member or friend where you are going and when you will return. Make sure they know your route to school and home.
Carry a cell phone and ID.
Stay alert at all times. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.
Walk in groups whenever possible.
Listen to your surroundings. Don't wear headsets. If you wear them you won't hear an approaching car or attacker.
Walk in familiar areas. Avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets, and overgrown trails. Especially avoid poorly lit areas at night.
Stay clear of parked cars or bushes.
Trust your intuition about a person or an area.
Ignore verbal harassment. Do not acknowledge strangers. Be observant and keep your distance and keep moving.
Do not respond if anyone in a car asks you for directions.
If someone tries to rob you, don't resist. Give up your property—don't risk your safety. Run away, hide, scream, and raise an alarm.
Have your door key ready before you reach your home.
Call the police immediately (311 or 911) if something happens to you or someone else, or you notice anyone or anything out of the ordinary.

Communications

EVACUATION ROUTE DETAILS

Inclement Weather and Emergency Messages

When inclement weather or another emergency prevents the opening of school, requires early closing, or activates an alternate school schedule, information will be available on the school website homepage (www.maret.org). Parents/Guardians' phone numbers and/or email addresses also will be used as appropriate for emergency notifications.

Please keep your emergency email and phone contacts current. Changes to this information should be made online by logging into the Parents/Guardians Portal (click on Community, then Parents/Guardians at the top of the homepage). If you need assistance, contact Director of Technology and Information Services Jean-Philippe Fontaine at 202-939-8807 or jpfontaine@maret.org.

In cases of inclement weather, announcements will be made over the radio stations WTOP 103.5 FM/820 AM, WASH 97.1 FM, and on television (NBC channel 4, FOX channel 5, and ABC channel 7). We will make an independent decision about closing school due to weather conditions, although if the DC public schools are closed, Maret may be closed. We will try to make the decision of “No School” by 5:30 a.m. If an announcement is NOT posted to the website, families should assume that school is operating on schedule.

In inclement weather or other emergencies, parents/guardians should always use their own judgment about road conditions and the safety of bringing their children in to school and picking them up early.

How to Talk to Children About Difficult Topics

Ask clarifying questions to get a better understanding of what your child is asking.

Be developmentally appropriate. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly, but do not give more information than is age-appropriate and/or necessary. Instead of tackling a conversation or a question in one conversation, you can always circle back if needed.

Invite your child to ask questions. It is okay if you cannot answer everything; being available for your child is what matters.

Don’t let your own anxiety take over. Parents can get worried about explaining everything rather than just answering the specific question that was posed.

Avoid overly focusing on the subject. Gauge how much you talk about the topic depending on the age of your child. Young children may not need to know much.

Share what you are doing to stay safe. An important way to reassure children is to emphasize the safety precautions that you are taking.

Empower children and help them feel in control. Help them figure out what they can do to manage their emotions or change a situation.

Avoid excessive blaming. When tensions run high, sometimes we try to blame someone or something. It is important to avoid stereotyping or negative comments about a specific group of people.

Monitor television viewing and social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to information that may be upsetting when children are present.

Stick to routine. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping children happy and healthy.

Reassure children they are loved, safe, and protected by you and others.

Resources for Talking About the News and Traumatic Events with Children and Youth

Helping Children Cope with Frightening News
Child Mind Institute

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
Child Mind Institute

Explaining the News to Our Kids
Common Sense Media

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
National Association of School Psychologists

How to Help Children and Youth Process the Capitol Insurrection
Spark and Stitch Institute

Teaching Resources to Help Students Make Sense of the Rampage at the Capitol
The New York Times and a variety of educational organizations

Leading Conversations After Crisis
Teaching Tolerance

Pandemic-Related Resources

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
National Association of School Psychologists

Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Child Mind Institute (4-Minute Video)

How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus
Harvard Medical School

Talking to Teens and Tweens About the Coronavirus
The New York Times

Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus<
Teaching Tolerance

Countering COVID-19 Stigma and Racism: Tips for Parents and Caregivers
National Association of School Psychologists

Emergency Guidelines

Introduction

This information guide is for the use of Maret faculty and students to assist in your capacity to respond to different types of emergencies.

A hard copy of this information is available in every office and classroom and should be kept within easy access, where it will be immediately available as a guide for action during an emergency.

Please familiarize yourself with the contents of this guide. In the event you are faced with an emergency, it will serve as a quick reference for effective action. For additional information, please ask your Division Director or Department Chair.

The following information does not cover all emergency situations. It is meant to be used as a guide to make you aware of your environment and situations that might occur.

Guidelines for Code of Conduct

Bus or Field Trip Emergency

A teacher or parent chaperone must stay with students.
Evaluate first aid needs.
In the event of a CRISIS, notify:

Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
Main Office: 202-939-8848

AFTER HOURS
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812 or
Susan Epps 202-577-8928 (cell) or
Trey Holloway 202-308-4891 (cell) or
Marjo Talbott 202-494-5719 (cell), 202-686-4130 (home)

Release students only to parents, guardians, or authorized representatives. Record the name of the person to whom students were released.
In the event of any accident/injury, an incident report must be completed and submitted to the School Nurse upon returning to school. Incident report form is available online at maret.org/faculty/faculty-resources under School Forms—Health and Medical.
Any vehicle accident requires that an incident report form be completed and submitted to the Administrative Operations Coordinator or Jon Young upon returning to school.

Evacuation/Lockdown/Shelter

EVACUATION is used to get students and staff out of the building by a predetermined route. The sounding of the fire alarm or emergency bell will signal this. All faculty, students, and staff will proceed via predetermined routes, when possible, to the front lawn.

If there is a need to leave our campus, we will proceed by foot to Washington International School (3100 Macomb St. NW) via their back gate on Klingle Street. VIEW MAP TO WIS.

If you need to leave campus quickly, the back fence has two exits: one by the stairs and the other in the middle, which we will unlock.

LOCKDOWN: Due to a critical incident or an emergency situation that occurs at or near the School, it may become necessary for Maret to be placed into a lockdown mode for the protection of students and faculty.

If circumstances require a lockdown, the Head of School or her designee may make the announcement using an intercom through the telephone system.

A lockdown consists of moving all students into the School, securing all entrances, and denying access to any unauthorized person.

SHELTER: Possible use is for a threat on or near campus or severe weather. Do not use outside paths to move to safe locations. Silently move to key locales on campus, such as Lower School Library, Theatre, New Gym or to lower-level corridors, away from windows and glass, as instructed based on the threat.

If you need to stay in classroom/office, close and use door wedge to secure door; turn off lights; lower shades.

Fire

If you see a fire or smoke, immediately pull the nearest fire alarm, or call Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio (202-939-8812).
If a student or staff member’s clothing catches on fire, do not allow them to run. Running will fan the fire. STOP, DROP, AND ROLL.
Smother the fire by wrapping the person in heavy fabric (coat, rug, curtain, etc.) and rolling the person on the ground. If fabric is not available, roll the person on the ground unwrapped.
Follow instructions in the Evacuation/Lockdown/Shelter section.
The last person out of the room should verify that the room is empty, turn off the lights, and then close the door.
Remain calm.
Account for all students and remain and remain in your evacuation location until further instructions are given.
Students and staff are not to reenter the School until the Head of School or her designee gives the “All Clear.”

Missing/Lost Student

When a student is missing or lost, notify:
Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
Main Office: 202-939-8848

After hours:
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio: 202-939-8812 or
Susan Epps (cell: 202-577-8928) or
Trey Holloway 202-308-4891 (cell) or
Marjo Talbott (cell: 202-494-5719; home 202-686-4130)

Furnish a physical description and information about the student’s clothing and report any problems or pertinent information that is known to you regarding the student.
Remain calm.
Immediately search the entire area for student (i.e, closets, under desks, restrooms, etc.).
Ask other students if they know where the missing student may be.
If a student is lost on a field trip, the teacher should enlist the aid of all available adults to search for the student.

Serious Injury or Illness

In the event of serious injury or illness, our immediate concern is to aid the sick or injured.

Immediately Notify:
School Nurse 202-939-4051 and
Switchboard202-939-8800 or
Main Office202-939-8848

After hours:
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio: (202-939-8812) or
Susan Epps 202-577-8928 (cell) or
Trey Holloway 202-308-4891 (cell) or
Marjo Talbott (cell: 202-494-5719; home 202-686-4130)

The School Nurse or Athletic Trainer or, in their absence, a first aid certified employee, should be sent immediately to the location.
After determining the seriousness of the injury, either the Division Director, the Director of Athletics, or the first aid provider may make the decision to call 911 for an ambulance.
Issue appropriate emergency procedures to ensure that students are not unnecessarily exposed to trauma or danger (e.g., clear the room).
Remain calm and reassure students that all possible actions are being taken to care for the injured or ill person and to protect others.
Rejoin your students as soon as possible.
Account for all students and remain with them until further instructions are given.
An incident report needs to be completed as soon as possible for each incident involving an accident or injury at the School.

Severe Weather/Natural Disaster

Blizzard/Snowstorm

Under most circumstances school will remain in session until the close of the regular academic day. Parents may pick up their children at any time. A skeletal staff will remain with students who are not picked up at time of dismissal.

Thunderstorms

Students and adults may not remain on playing fields or lawns when there is lightning or a hailstorm in the area. Students and adults may not be out on playing fields or lawns until 30 minutes after there has been lightning or thunder.

Tornado

Move to inside hallways, basement areas, or closest lower-level interior spaces away from windows and glass.
Turn off lights, close doors, leave one window open if possible.
- Assume “Drop and Tuck” position.
- Get on your knees facing a wall.
- Bend at waist and touch top of your head to the wall.
Cover back of your head with your arms.
Sweepers ensure all individuals are in a safe location.
Faculty take attendance upon arrival at location.
Stay in this location until the “All Clear” or further instructions are given.

Earthquake (usually occurs without warning)

If you are indoors:

Get under sturdy desk, table, or supported doorway until shaking stops. Otherwise, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch near an inside corner of the building.
Avoid glass, windows, outside doors/walls, and anything that could fall.
DO NOT use the elevators.
Stay in location until the “All Clear” or further instructions are given.

If you are outdoors: Stay in the open. Do not enter damaged buildings. Beware of fires, downed power lines, and aftershocks.

If you are driving: Stop. Remain in vehicle.

Spilled Body Fluids

All body fluids (blood, vomit, urine, feces, saliva) have the potential to infect people with disease such as Hepatitis B, HIV, or other serious illnesses. If possible, the maintenance staff should be called for assistance with the cleanup.

Wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves at all times when dealing with another person’s body fluids.
Avoid getting another person’s body fluids in your eyes, mouth, open sores, or wounds.
If exposed, rinse the affected area immediately and wash with soap and water.
Report exposure to:
School Nurse 202-939-4051 and
Switchboard 202-939-8800 or
Main Office 202-939-8848
After hours:
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
Nurse and/or maintenance crew will supervise all cleanup procedures.
After removing gloves, follow good hand washing practices.
See Blood borne Pathogen Kit and Guide, located in Head’s Office, Assistant Head: Finance & Operations’s office, Maintenance Office, and Nurse’s Office, for more information about related exposure and cleanup issues.
If a student is exposed to bodily fluids, have the School Nurse or Athletic Trainer come to the scene to recommend follow-up care.

Suspicious Object

A suspicious object is something out of place, such as an unattended briefcase leaning against the outside of a building.

Do not touch or approach a suspicious object.
Immediately Notify
Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
Main Office: 202-939-8848
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
After hours:
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
Identify the area clearly so it can be barricaded.
Get students out of the immediate areas and wait for directions.
Follow Crisis Team members’ instructions for appropriate Emergency Response Procedure.
Account for all students and remain in designated area until contacted.

Suspicious Person on Campus

Direct all strangers or visitors to the Receptionist/Main Office.
Visitors to our campus should wear a name tag that they receive from Administrative Operations Manager (Woodley Reception Office)
Immediately Notify
Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
Main Office: 202-939-8848
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
After hours
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
Report suspected or actual weapons or altercations immediately to Switchboard or Main Office.
Stay with students, keeping them together.
Use door wedges to secure classroom doors, and lower blinds.
Use resources in safety kits if possible to help protect you and your students.
Account for all students and remain in the area to which you were sent (or rejoin your students as soon as possible, if you directed the students to leave the classroom).

Emergency Supplies

FIRST AID KITS LOCATED IN:

School Nurse’s Office
Athletic Trainer’s Office
Receptionist’s Office
Maintenance Office
Athletics Office
LS, MS, and US Directors’ Offices

BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGEN KITS LOCATED IN:
(Stored within Emergency Packs)

Main Office
School Nurse’s Office
Athletic Trainer’s Office
Maintenance Office

EPIPENS LOCATED IN:

Cafeteria
School Nurse’s Office
Athletic Trainer’s Office
Contact Division Directors for additional EpiPens

DEFIBRILLATORS LOCATED IN:

Cafeteria
Cardio Room (Fitness Wing)

IN CASE OF EVACUATION OR LOCKDOWN

Call for location of water supplies, power bars, blankets, and emergency equipment:
Jon Young (office: 202-939-8813; cell: 202-497-5335) or
Bill Hodgetts (office: 202-939-8821; cell: 410-598-5544)

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