Wellesley High School students and faculty next Wednesday morning (Oct. 17) will have active shooter training exercise with the Wellesley Police Department, according to WHS principal Jamie Chisum.
The school community will watch a training video (same one created last year with the assistance of the WHS Drama Department and Wellesley Public Media), with 9th graders viewing it amongst the police, advisors and school administrators for additional support. Other students will watch in their advisories.
This will be followed by the actual exercise, which will involve students locking down classrooms, evacuating, etc., prompted by an announcement by Chisum. Students will then return to their advisories for debriefings, and advisors will collect info that could be useful for the administration to consider going forward.
If students do not want to participate, they can meet with a member of the guidance department and go away from the building. Parents should know that if they do not want their child to participate, they should follow the absence protocol.
Less formal training will follow in the spring.
MORE: An interview with Wellesley High Principal Jamie Chisum about Challenge Success initiative