This post is part of a series responding to some of the most frequently asked questions. I am grateful for the opportunity to share responses that reflect the culture and values of New Creation Preschool. -Ms Kristin
One of the most frequently asked questions is: Do you do A.L.I.C.E. trainings?
No, we do not (if you aren’t familiar with these, you can click here to learn more).
However, we DO practice the skills necessary for children to participate in lockdown or evacuation situations without using the language to suggest specific scenarios of intruders or “bad guys.” For instance, we practice sitting quietly and very still, gathering in new spaces, coming quickly when a teacher calls, getting small on the ground, running to a specified location, etc. These skills are practiced during our regular preschool day and can then be put to use in any real time crisis.
Here is an example of the fruit of our labors from 2022:
TODAY WAS A SURPRISE TEST…and they passed with flying colors!
Today we walked to the playground by following our line leader. (success #1)
When we got closer I could see a loose dog in the playground and called for all the children to step away from the gate so I could lock the dog in the fence. (success #2)
Then I told the children to stay on the sidewalk outside of the fence with Ms Brenda and Grandma Mona and watch while I went in to get the dog. (success #3)
A neighbor came in to help and the children made a path for her to come in. (success #4)
Ms Brenda ran in to get a key for the gate at the top of hill and the children still stayed on the sidewalk with Grandma Mona without climbing the fence. (success #5)
The neighbor got the dog and brought it through our gate. The children moved from one side of the sidewalk to another so there was a path for them. (success #6)
The children followed the safety instructions to not touch the dog. (success #7)
Grandma Mona stayed with the dog outside of the fence and the children were free to run and play while I called 911. (success #8)
After a few minutes we paused our play to call out thanks to the Animal Control worker who came. She was very friendly and assured us she was going to help the dog find its home. After waving goodbye and getting back to snow baby building, she called teachers to the fence with a question: Could she give the children a stuffed animal? The answer was yes!
So once again, the children followed every direction to come back to the top of the hill, to stand on the sidewalk, to take turns getting a stuffed animal and expressing thanks in word or smiling eyes or sign. (successes #9-12)
Our time with our Animal Control Worker Friend was made even sweeter when she offered to turn her red and blue lights on for us. Amazing!
Here is what today showed me: these children KNOW HOW to follow directions in times of crisis. So much of our preschool day is spent with the normal and healthy testing of limits. We are constantly turning every moment into a teachable one in hopes of making a connection so strong that they can participate as a unit. It is the ultimate goal for a safe school and I am delighted to have seen it.
We were very proud of these children and relished in seeing the fruit of our labor.
Click here to read the entire post on our SAFETY PLANS and PROCEDURES
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