Emergencies Policy

Overnight Inclement Weather

When inclement weather strikes overnight and road conditions are hazardous in the morning, Bullis will announce a delay or cancellation of school in four ways:

  1. On the Bullis Web site
  2. On the telephone recording at the main school number (301-299-8500)
  3. On the following radio and TV stations:

    4. Radio
    WTOP 820AM and 103.5FM
    WMAL 630AM

    TV
    WRC (Channel 4)
    WTTG/Fox (Channel 5)
    News Channel 8

  4. Through SchoolsOut.com, which parents can (1) check online, (2) register online at SchoolsOut.com for free e-mail notices or (3) register online at SchoolsOut.com to receive text messages to their cell phones for an annual fee.

Every effort will be made to post these announcements no later than 5:30 a.m.

Weather-related cancellations and delayed openings at Bullis will not always conform to those announced by Montgomery County public schools. When Montgomery County opens on time, Bullis can be expected to open on time. If Montgomery County announces a weather-related delay or closing, check on the status of Bullis as described above.

Bullis has three snow days built into the 2007–08 school calendar. If school is closed due to inclement weather or other emergencies for more than four days, the following make-up days will be added to the school calendar as needed, in the order listed:
  1. Monday, June 9
  2. Tuesday, June 10
  3. Wednesday, June 11

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Unexpected Early Dismissal

If weather conditions (or other emergencies like power outages) lead to a decision to dismiss Bullis students during the school day, the school will:

  1. Post the cancellation message, with bus information, on the school’s Web site
  2. Send an E-Train message to all parents
  3. Post the message on SchoolsOut.com
  4. Call the Parents Association president and ask to inform parents through the parent phone tree.

Parents are responsible for picking up their children as quickly as possible after an unexpected early dismissal. In the event a parent cannot reach the school to pick up his/her student, the parent needs to call the school to make alternative arrangements for the student to get home. Bullis buses will depart from school 15 minutes after school is dismissed.

During early dismissals, one-way traffic patterns will be in place, just as they are during normal afternoon dismissals.

In case of an active thunderstorm during dismissal, the school’s policy is to keep students in the buildings until the threat of lightning has passed.

After-School Activities

On days when school has been cancelled due to inclement weather, all after-school activities (practices, rehearsals, games, meetings and performances) are cancelled unless specifically authorized by the head of school, based on improving weather and road conditions. For information on after-school activities and events, check the school’s Web site or Athletic Hotline (301-983-5737). 

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Emergency Preparedness

In order to adequately respond to a variety of potential campus emergencies and other threats to student safety, an Emergency Response Team comprised of senior staff and faculty at Bullis has developed, and annually updates, a Bullis Emergency Plan, a copy of which is posted in each classroom and office. As part of the Emergency Plan, a number of all-school drills are conducted each year, to help ensure a rapid, effective response to a variety of emergencies:

  1. Evacuation drills (once each month): Fire alarms are pulled, and students exit all campus buildings in an orderly manner and assemble at one of two predetermined assembly areas, at a safe distance from buildings, where attendance is taken. 
  2. Shelter-in-place drills (once or twice each year): Notified over the campus phone paging system and TV monitors, teachers move students into prescribed safe areas in each building (typically the lower floor hallways). Depending on the nature of the threat, air handling systems may be shut down. Shelter-in-place is called whenever a tornado warning is posted for the Potomac area. It would also be used in the event of most airborne hazards.
  3. Code Red drills (once or twice each year): Notified over the campus phone paging system and TV monitors, teachers move students into classrooms, lock doors and drop blinds over all windows, and instruct students to remain quiet. This drill is designed to protect against an armed intruder or similar life-threatening situation on campus.

The school has equipped key staff and faculty with two-way radios and cell phones to permit quick communication and coordinated action in the event of any emergency. The Emergency Response Team quickly convenes under the head of school’s direction in any emergency to provide decision support and assistance. Each building has an administrator designated as building leader to augment the Emergency Response Team and provide local direction to teachers and students.

In the event of an actual campus emergency, the E-Train service and/or the parent phone tree would be used to contact parents with information regarding the status of school and arrangements to pick up students, if judged safe by the school.

The school’s first responsibility in any emergency is to ensure the safety of students. Depending on the nature of the emergency, access to the campus or specific buildings by parents may be limited until conditions are judged safe by the school and/or emergency authorities.

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