| A Safe, Supportive Environment for Every Student. | CAMPUS SAFETY & SECURITY |
Our Approach to Campus SafetyMeet Our TeamI Love U Guys FoundationStandard Response ProtocolWhat Families Should Know in an EmergencyEmergency Communications and Family Notifications Our Commitment to School Safety
At St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors are among our highest priorities. We are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming learning environment where students can focus on academic excellence, personal growth, and faith formation.
Through established safety procedures, regular training, and collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency responders, STVM takes a proactive approach to campus safety and emergency preparedness.
Our Approach to Campus Safety
STVM maintains a comprehensive approach to school safety that emphasizes prevention, preparedness, response, and communication. Our safety practices include:
- Established Emergency Response Protocols: Consistent procedures help students and staff respond appropriately to a variety of situations.
- Training and Preparedness: Students, faculty, and staff participate in regular safety training and drills.
- Campus Security: Our Safety and Security Team works to maintain a secure campus environment.
- Community Partnerships: We collaborate with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies to support campus safety.
- Timely Communication: Families receive important safety information through established school communication channels.
STVM follows the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to improving school safety and emergency preparedness. The SRP provides schools with a consistent, easy-to-understand approach to responding to emergencies through five clear actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. By implementing these protocols and regularly training our students, faculty, and staff, STVM helps ensure our school community is prepared to respond quickly, calmly, and effectively to potential safety situations. The links below provide more details about the I Love U Guys Foundation.
Standard Response Protocol (SRP)
The SRP provides a common language and clear actions for responding to safety situations in schools. By using consistent terminology and practicing these procedures, students and staff know what is expected of them when an emergency or potential threat arises. The five SRP actions are:
 | Hold! In Your Room or Area. Clear the Halls.Students: Clear the hallways and remain in room or area until the "All Clear" is announced; Do business as usual Adults: Close and lock the door; Account for students and adults; Do business as usual |
 | SECURE! Get inside. Lock outside doors.Students: Return to inside of building; Do business as usual Teachers: Bring everyone indoors; Lock outside doors; Increase situational awareness; Do business as usual; Take attendance |
 | LOCKDOWN! Locks, lights, out of sight.Students: Move away from sight; Maintain silence; Do not open the door Adults: Recover students from hallway if possible; Lock classroom door; Turn out the lights; Move away from sight; Maintain silence; Do not open door; Prepare to evade or defend |
 | EVACUATE! (A location may be specified).Students: Leave stuff behind if required to; If possible, bring your phone; Follow instructions Adults: Lead students to Evacuation location; Account for students and adults; Notify if missing; extra or injured students or adults |
 | SHELTER! Hazard and safety strategy.Students: Use appropriate safety strategy for hazard Adults: Lead safety strategy; Account for students and adults; Notify if missing, extra or injured students or adults |
What Families Should Know During an Emergency
During a campus safety incident, we ask families to follow official STVM communications and instructions.
Please remember:
- Monitor official communications. Watch for updates through OneCall, including email and SMS text messages.
- Avoid coming to campus unless instructed. Unplanned arrivals can interfere with emergency response efforts.
- Follow school instructions. If a change to dismissal, pickup, or reunification procedures is necessary, STVM will provide specific directions.
- Rely on verified information. Information shared through official STVM communication channels is the most reliable source for school-specific updates.
Emergency Communications & Family Notifications
Clear and timely communication is an essential part of our campus safety efforts. During a safety-related incident, STVM may communicate important updates to families through the OneCall emergency notification system, which delivers email and SMS text notifications. Depending on the circumstances, notifications may include:
- Information about an initiated safety protocol, when appropriate to share.
- Updates as additional verified information becomes available.
- Notification when a safety protocol has been lifted.
- Instructions for families if additional action is necessary.
Our priority during any incident is the immediate safety of students and staff. We work to provide families with accurate, verified information as quickly as circumstances allow.
Our Commitment to School Safety
At STVM, creating a safe and supportive school community is a shared responsibility. We are committed to continually reviewing our practices, strengthening our preparedness, and working with families and community partners to support the safety of everyone on our campus.
We appreciate the trust families place in STVM each day and remain dedicated to providing an environment where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.