In the calm after the furious storm of Shanique Thomas dramatising an incensed parent invading Donald Quarrie (DQ) High School in search of 'Miss Brown', there were smiles all around in vice-principal Zena Williams' office on Monday morning.
Not only because of Thomas' outstanding performance, the woman from ASHE open DQ's orange metal gates and slamming her handbag to the concrete inside the schoolyard, but more so the sterling performance (in another sense) of the school's critical-management team.
Members of the team, organised by Peace and Love in Society (PALS) trainer Sybil James, had handled the situation excellently, from the sound of the bullhorn alerting all to a crisis to the 'parent' being calmed down enough to be escorted to Williams' office, then the all-clear signal.
After Thomas' huffing and puffing and Thomas' final hoarse, emotional, demanding "Miss Brown, why you so wicked!?" had been replaced by satisfied smiles. Williams told THE WEEKEND STAR, "Everything went as planned. The parent forced her way in and we were able to calm her down. The children stayed inside, with the help of the teachers. We did not have any disruptions at all."
The school did not have a trained response team before PALS put one in place. Donald Quarrie is one of 15 high schools in which the programme is being implemented in the first phase of a five-year memorandum of understanding between PALS and the Ministry of Education. Ninety primary and junior high schools have also been introduced to the programme under the agreement.
Although it was a dramatisation the scenario was not new to DQ - which is why that particular simulation was chosen for the drill. PALS presents the schools with a number of scenarios for critical incident management drills and Williams says they chose the irate parent because of previous incidents which have disrupted the school day. She points out, though, that the school does have two competent security guards, so she had some level of confidence previously.
Unexpected benefit
There is an unexpected benefit from the drill as well, as although the police did not turn up until after it was over, a very courteous constable explained how they could have been accessed faster and gave VP Williams several numbers for direct contact with police officers.
There are critical-incident management teams on the morning and evening shifts, 26 persons in all, comprising a medical team, transportation coordinator, perimeter coordinator (who controls the gate), parent coordinator (who communicates with the parents of children directly involved in any incident) and a media coordinator, who liaises with the press. DQ principal Reford Hines holds the last position and also selects the persons for the teams.
"You don't have to send anyone. You just see them where they are supposed to be," Williams summed up the team's response.
When the team was addressing Thomas, the students were inside their classrooms, naturally curious, but contained.
Depending on the signal from the bullhorn, there may be nobody in the schoolyard or even DQ at all. The lockdown signal means only members of the critical- management team should be outside, while during a complete lockdown only emergency-services personnel, such as soldiers and police, should be seen outside the classrooms.
And when the evacuation signal is given, very quickly there will be no one inside the orange gates at DQ, Harbour View, St Andrew.
Not only because of Thomas' outstanding performance, the woman from ASHE open DQ's orange metal gates and slamming her handbag to the concrete inside the schoolyard, but more so the sterling performance (in another sense) of the school's critical-management team.
Members of the team, organised by Peace and Love in Society (PALS) trainer Sybil James, had handled the situation excellently, from the sound of the bullhorn alerting all to a crisis to the 'parent' being calmed down enough to be escorted to Williams' office, then the all-clear signal.
After Thomas' huffing and puffing and Thomas' final hoarse, emotional, demanding "Miss Brown, why you so wicked!?" had been replaced by satisfied smiles. Williams told THE WEEKEND STAR, "Everything went as planned. The parent forced her way in and we were able to calm her down. The children stayed inside, with the help of the teachers. We did not have any disruptions at all."
The school did not have a trained response team before PALS put one in place. Donald Quarrie is one of 15 high schools in which the programme is being implemented in the first phase of a five-year memorandum of understanding between PALS and the Ministry of Education. Ninety primary and junior high schools have also been introduced to the programme under the agreement.
Although it was a dramatisation the scenario was not new to DQ - which is why that particular simulation was chosen for the drill. PALS presents the schools with a number of scenarios for critical incident management drills and Williams says they chose the irate parent because of previous incidents which have disrupted the school day. She points out, though, that the school does have two competent security guards, so she had some level of confidence previously.
Unexpected benefit
There is an unexpected benefit from the drill as well, as although the police did not turn up until after it was over, a very courteous constable explained how they could have been accessed faster and gave VP Williams several numbers for direct contact with police officers.
There are critical-incident management teams on the morning and evening shifts, 26 persons in all, comprising a medical team, transportation coordinator, perimeter coordinator (who controls the gate), parent coordinator (who communicates with the parents of children directly involved in any incident) and a media coordinator, who liaises with the press. DQ principal Reford Hines holds the last position and also selects the persons for the teams.
"You don't have to send anyone. You just see them where they are supposed to be," Williams summed up the team's response.
When the team was addressing Thomas, the students were inside their classrooms, naturally curious, but contained.
Depending on the signal from the bullhorn, there may be nobody in the schoolyard or even DQ at all. The lockdown signal means only members of the critical- management team should be outside, while during a complete lockdown only emergency-services personnel, such as soldiers and police, should be seen outside the classrooms.
And when the evacuation signal is given, very quickly there will be no one inside the orange gates at DQ, Harbour View, St Andrew.
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