Worcester Public Schools (WPS) principals, assistant principals and district-based staff recently participated in an intensive safety training session led by The I Love U Guys Foundation.
Held at Worcester State University, the training focused on ensuring staff are prepared to reunite students with their families in case of a school evacuation in an extended emergency. The training was held on January 9 and 10. It was the second large-scale training of WPS administrators since the summer.
These training sessions come after the district fully implemented The I Love U Guys Foundation's Standard Response Protocol (SRP) last year. The SRP includes procedures for lockdowns, evacuations, and shelter-in-place drills. With this training, principals and district staff are strengthening these protocols with an increased focus on reunification — a critical component in the aftermath of a high-level emergency.
During training, administrators participated in role-playing exercises simulating the process of reuniting students with their families. These exercises were designed to ensure that WPS staff can act quickly, efficiently, and in an organized manner to reunite children with their loved ones in the event of an emergency.