Practicing to be Safe:  The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority for Park West School and the Halifax Regional School Board. In recent year we have been implementing a number of measures as part of a comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring our school remains a safe place for our students to learn.  One of the procedures schools have been employing is a lock down drill. During a lock down classroom doors are secured and the students remain inside the room until instructed by the teacher to resume their activities. All exterior doors are locked and no one is permitted to enter or leave the building.  Students are isolated within the school when circumstances make it safer to stay in the classroom rather than evacuate. Just as we prepare our students to properly respond to a fire drill, they also need to be aware of the proper response during a lock down drill. These drills should be treated with the same level of importance as fire drills. Be assured that staff at our school will spend time discussing the importance of this procedure with students prior to running a drill. We will also take time after the drill to remind them that it was only a practice and there was no danger.  Please take the time to speak with your son/daughter about this procedure and reinforce its importance. We practice these drills to ensure our school remains a safe place for teaching and learning.