Safety & Security at Windsor Charter Academy
School Safety
Keeping our students safe is a top priority for our families and our staff! Windsor Charter Academy has a full-time armed safety officer at each of our buildings. Our safety officers and other staff members keep a watchful eye on our Firebirds throughout the school day using surveillance cameras in our interior common spaces and outside spaces. These measures, coupled with our keyless entry cards, 2-way radios, and vape/THC sensors, help us ensure that we have the tools required to keep our students safe.
If you have any questions about our security measures, please contact Cody Mason, Head of School Safety.
Visitors & Volunteers
Windsor Charter Academy welcomes family members and friends to volunteer or participate in all of the exciting activities at our schools! We prioritize school safety and want to ensure that all visitors who enter our buildings during school hours to have a current background check on file. Learn more about Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Background Checks and Fast Passes.
Safety Committee
Windsor Charter Academy’s Safety Committee’s purpose encompasses a variety of areas, including, but not limited to: physical safety, environmental safety, internet safety, and emotional safety. The committee focuses on diligent exploration and research to develop appropriate options and safeguards to increase the level of safety at our schools. Each year, our Safety Committee identifies key areas to invest in to continue to ensure that our buildings are safe and that our safety procedures are based on best-practices. To join our Safety Committee, click here.
ALICE Training
Windsor Charter Academy’s school-wide safety program is called ALICE. ALICE is an option-based, proactive approach to a violent critical incident. According from data from federal and state agencies, when facing extreme violence, a passive lockdown-only response may not keep a school safe. ALICE focuses on providing options to respond based on the circumstance. ALICE’s premise is that “proactive, options-based strategies help people feel empowered to make the best decision rather than hopelessly endure a difficult situation.” To learn more about ALICE, please click here.
Standard Response Protocol
Our schools regularly conduct drills under the Standard Response Protocol to ensure staff and students are well-versed in emergency procedures. We use the same response language across all emergency types:
Hold: A "hold" procedure may be initiated in case of a medical emergency in the hallway or when privacy is required. Students clear the hallways and remain in their classrooms. Learning continues as normal. Students will remain in their classrooms until an “all clear” is announced.
Secure: Safety protocols are activated in case of a threat or hazard outside the school building. If students are outside, they return indoors with all external doors secured. Normal learning activities continue inside the building until an official "all clear" is issued, indicating it's safe to return outside again. Close coordination with law enforcement is maintained throughout the situation. Access to the building will be restricted based on the information received from law enforcement.
Lockdown: The threat or hazard is inside the school building. If a student is in the hallway, they return to their classroom or self-evacuate. Classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, students are silent, and they move away from sight. Students and staff prepare to stay in lockdown, evacuate the building, or counterattack depending on the circumstance.
Evacuate: During an evacuation, students are moved away from possible danger in a quick, orderly process. Staff will take attendance to account for all students and adults.
Shelter: When a school is sheltering in place, students and staff take action to protect themselves from potential danger. Hazardous threats include tornados, earthquakes, or hazmat situations. Staff will take attendance to account for all students and adults.
Parents’ Role
During an emergency, parents or guardians' natural instinct is to come to school and protect their children. However, coming to school may endanger themselves and their children. Law enforcement and school personnel are trained to respond to the situation. The arrival of parents and guardians may interfere and distract personnel from adequately responding to the emergency. Please help by following the steps below.
Stay Home: Staying away from school may be the most important contribution you can make to your student and your safety.
Stay Informed: Information will be shared with families as soon as possible. Please know that accurate information may take some time to verify and share in some situations.
Be Ready: Be prepared to follow instructions from Windsor Charter Academy.
Safety Drills
Medical Emergency Drills: Students remain inside the building under a “hold” status.
Fire Drill: Students exit the building and follow protocols under an “evacuate” status.
Tornado Drill: Students remain inside the building, in the interior-most hallways, away from windows and doors.
Earthquake Drill: Students take shelter under their desks.
Secure/Lockdown/Evacuation Drills: Students follow protocols under a “secure, lockdown, or evacuation” status.
Reunification Drills: If more than one school evacuates its building, it will reunify at a central reunification site. During a reunification drill, all schools practice reunifying at a single location.