Living with Reality

Ok, the girl (me) had the sob fest, but has managed to pull herself up from the doldrums. Tomorrow morning we will practice our "lock down" procedures for the morning. We have students all over the place between 7:30 and 8:00. Our elementary campus is pretty much open to anyone. We have buses unloading on one side of the school, cars unloading in 2 spots in the front, and some on the side. Some students go to breakfast, others are in the gym. At 7:55, the majority of our 560 students are in the gym awaiting dismissal to their class. Tomorrow we will practice a "code red" lock down with all 560 students in the gym. We have a plan in place, but this is the first time we will practice during this time. It will probably be chaos, but the important part is that everyone knows what to do. Teachers, Students, parents on campus, etc. Of course this is a planned "lock down", but it will help us to fine tune those areas that need attention....like students who are in the bathrooms, students in the cafeteria, students in route to the gym or cafeteria, etc. At some point, we need to practice an unplanned "code red" lock down during this time. That will be the true test. However, it seems that Sandybrook Elementary had it all together. Their plan was meticulously executed....I fear the thought of what might have been had they not be prepared. This will definitely be on the minds of everyone for some time to come.