Safety/Security Drills

In response to questions about our security preparedness, please note the following excerpt from the Visitation Academy Emergency Handbook:

Visitation Academy and all schools within the Archdiocese of Newark follow State guidance relating to school security drills pursuant to 18A:41-1. In addition to monthly fire drills, we conduct security drills, which are similar in duration to a fire drill, and which are used to practice the schools’ procedures for responding to emergencies as outlined in the School Administrator Procedures: Responding to Critical Incidents document that the Department of Education disseminated in October 2007. Schools also coordinate with local emergency responders by updating safety and security plans and procedures for drilling, managing and responding to school emergencies.
Schools are required to hold a minimum of two of each of the following security drills annually:
• Active shooter
• Evacuation (non- fire)
• Bomb threat
• Lockdown (Hold in place)

Examples of other types of monthly security drills:
• Shelter-in-place
• Reverse evacuation
• Evacuation to relocation site
• Testing of school’s notification system and procedures
• Testing of school’s communication system and procedures
• Administrative/ staff tabletop exercises as needed
• Full scale exercises, which are done in conjunction with local fire/ safety officials.

In accordance with N.J. State Law, after each security drill, Visitation Academy parents will receive a School Messenger communication that states the following:
“Today, in accordance with state law, our school conducted a security drill in the manner that we conduct all emergency drills, with seriousness and with sensitivity to our students and staff.
Everyone responded appropriately and class instruction resumed immediately thereafter. Please feel free to contact the school's office if you have any questions.
This notice is for informational purposes only and is part of our monthly school safety drill protocol. There is no need to respond.”
All public and nonpublic schools are also required to annually submit the “Security Drill Statement of Assurance” provided by the Department of Education, for review and compliance, to the respective county prosecutor’s office by June 30 of each year.
Employee training on school safety and security plans
In conjunction with the district board of education, schools develop and provide an in-service training program for all public and nonpublic school employees to enable them to recognize and appropriately respond to safety and security concerns, including emergencies and crises consistent with the State of N.J. and local district board of education’s plans, procedures, and mechanisms for school safety and security.
In compliance with provision of training on school safety, security 18A:41-7, all public and nonpublic schools ensure that all full-time teaching staff members in the district or nonpublic school are provided with training on school safety and security that includes instruction on school security drills. This training is given annually, typically prior to the start of the new school year, and the training uses the drill guide and training materials prepared pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.178 (C.App.A:9-86). The in-service training programs for all school employees throughout the state are reviewed annually and updated as appropriate.
Please note: Visitation Academy held its most recent security training, as required, on September 1, 2022 with a State Certified trainer.


9/10/2022