Bear Creek Emergency Information

Emergency Information for Families

In case of an emergency during school hours, or affecting school operation, (such as a snowstorm, windstorm, earthquake, fire or lockdown) please note the following important information and keep it in a convenient location for quick reference.

If you are a parent on campus in the Parent Lounge during a drill or emergency, please follow the Parent Evacuation Procedures and do not attempt to join your student until staff have completed attendance and they are released to you. These procedures are posted inside the door of the parent lounge and you can find a printable version here.

Communication

In the event of an emergency or adverse weather event, please do not call the office or staff to make dismissal arrangements for your student, to ask if school will be closed, or if it is on a late start schedule. Please note that campus phones may be forwarded to a district phone bank in an emergency.

School will not automatically be canceled in a crisis or emergency situation. School may well be the safest place for students. Officials will ensure that students are safe inside until such time that the threat has been reduced or eliminated.

Northshore School District broadcasts schedule change and emergency messages, when necessary, using several methods. General emergency messages, early and late school openings and closings can be found on the district homepage, and on the district information line at 425-408-6001. You may also check on FlashAlert.net.

School Messenger: During a school emergency, SchoolMessenger quickly sends important messages to parents via phone. This automated calling system only works if your contact phone numbers are current in the student information system. Phone numbers can be updated through ParentVUE.

Please note: SchoolMessenger automatically starts with the “home” number listed in ParentVUE. The system automatically calls this “home “ number when they need to reach you. Please make sure your student’s contact information in ParentVUE is up-to-date including home, cell, and work phone numbers, as well as emergency contact information and medical providers. If you have multiple students attending in Northshore School District, please make sure that the information is correct for each of them.

Many local radio and TV stations will carry updates, including: KOMO - 97.7 FM, KOMO - 1000 AM, KIRO - 710 AM, KOMO TV channel 4, KING TV channel 5, and KIRO TV channel 7.

Adverse Weather Events

Please follow district announcements through ParentSquare for updates about school delays or closures. 

If weather conditions make a schedule change necessary, Northshore School District will communicate the decision through the following methods and in this order:

  • TV and Radio Stations: Checking the local television or radio stations is an effective and efficient way to find out if there is a schedule change.
  • District and School Websites: We post school schedule updates to the District and school websites as early as possible between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m.
  • Northshore School District social media: 
    • Instagram: @teamnorthshore 
    • Twitter: @Northshore_SD
    • Facebook: Northshore School District
  • Phone calls, emails, and text messages: Families will receive a phone call, email, text message, between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m., however other communication channels may be faster.
  • Northshore Information Line: You may also call the district’s information line, 425-408-6001, beginning at 6 a.m., Monday through Friday for school closure information. 

Due to the hilly roads and conditions around the campus, it may get icy. Please do NOT drive to the school if you believe conditions to be unsafe. If you encounter icy conditions on campus, please call the front office.

If an emergency should occur while your student is at school

Remain calm. Remember that we have your students’ best interests at heart and will do everything possible to keep them safe.

We know that in the event of an emergency, families will understandably be concerned about students and will want access to them. We understand your need, but hope that you will remain calm and work with us to ensure safe and accurate monitoring of all our students. Students will not be released until we have completed attendance and managed the immediate emergency. 

If the campus needs to be evacuated

  • If the school needs to be evacuated, we will organize students on the playfield. Teachers and other personnel will supervise each class.
  • If the school is evacuated, the student release station will be located on the blacktop near the bus zone in front of the school.
  • When arriving, do NOT block access to the school entrance or to the fire station nearby. Park at the south lot (across from the fire station), or near Safeway, and walk to the student release station. Please drive carefully and note that cars will need to turn around to exit via Avondale.
  • When you arrive at school, please proceed immediately to the student release station. Do NOT go to the evacuation locations! Your students will be brought to you at the student release station. Parents who are not already on campus will not be allowed past this point without permission.
  • Students will not be released until we have completed our attendance procedures. Please wait patiently.

Note: A student will not be dismissed from school in a major emergency unless a parent, guardian, or an individual designated by the parent or guardian comes to the release station for documented pick-up and release. Please bring photo identification with you if at all possible. Please notify the designated adults on your dismissal plan, that photo ID will be required. You will be required to complete a form for each student that you are picking up. You will need to provide the student's name, your name, your intended destination, phone number and signature.

If the campus does not need to be evacuated

  • If the school is NOT evacuated in an emergency, the student release station will be located in the school office, library or gym. Look for signs directing you to the location.
  • During emergency situations, circumstances could arise that might force changes to the student release location. If this is the case, parents will be informed of changes via the local media and through school resources.

*In the event that there is a need for an emergency early dismissal, the school will follow parent procedures as stated on each student’s emergency information form.