Dear Parents & Guardians of Macungie Students,
Recently our teachers and staff received CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event) training from local law enforcement on how to respond to an active shooter. Based on the foundational elements of Avoid, Deny, and Defend, teachers and administrators were trained on how to make decisions to best handle various scenarios.
In order to introduce this training to students, all East Penn School District elementary schools will participate in a safety drill on Thursday, May 3rd. After the school is locked down, teachers will discuss with students the basics of the CRASE training. Emphasis will be placed on action(s) to take during an active shooter event, dependent upon factors such as location, proximity to danger, exits, and information that may be provided to students and staff through our the public address system.
This safety drill will be different than past lockdown drills in that it will be discussion-based providing students with an opportunity to ask questions. The training will be modified appropriately to consider the developmental needs and chronological age of students. At the conclusion of the drill, we will seek teacher and student feedback so that we can continue the process of refining our district’s crisis response procedures.
Over the next few days, you may want to take a few minutes to discuss with your child the necessity of being aware of surroundings, reporting suspicious persons or situations, and listening attentively to teachers and staff during an emergency.
Thank you for your continued partnership in providing a safe and welcoming educational environment throughout the East Penn School District.
Sincerely,
Sallie Yencho