We live in serious and dangerous times! Many schools around the world have recently experienced terror attacks, bomb blasts and also natural disastors. Even in the south of Thailand, where we are located, there have recently been bomb and arson attacks. No one can really predict when some kind of disastor may come to a school community. It is therefore prudent and wise to prepare students and staff to react responsibly when some terrible thing may come their way. It is in this spirit that American Prep International, Thailand is serious about training students and staff to be prepared.
Thus the school conducted its first evacuation practice on Friday 2 September. In the 2 weeks leading up to the practice, staff and students were instructed on how to conduct the evacuation. Then suddenly at 9:15 (this morning) the emergency bell went off in one continuous howl! The different homeroom teachers quickly went through the drill procedures and brought their students to the assembly point. Public gates were closed. Classroom doors were shut when the last student left the class. Just three minutes and 38 seconds and all were outside and accounted for. Two students were at first reported missing, but were quickly found hiding in the school bathroom! (This was staged, in order to check procedures!) Congratulations to staff and students. Some lessons were learned and next time round the time should even be much faster!