Our highest priority is always the safety and security of our students and staff. 

Critical Incidents Drills are an essential part of making sure campuses are prepared for the many different hazards they may face. Here at Carl T. Widén Elementary, we conduct drills as required by the State of Texas.

Secure Drill: A response action schools take to secure the perimeter of school buildings and grounds during incidents that pose a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Secure uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection to deny entry.

Lockdown Drill: A response action schools take to secure interior portions of school buildings and grounds during incidents that pose an immediate threat of violence inside the school. The primary objective is to quickly ensure all school students, staff, and visitors are secured away from immediate danger.

Evacuation Drill: A response action schools take to quickly move students and staff from one place to another. The primary objective of an evacuation is to ensure that all staff, students, and visitors can quickly move away from the threat. Evacuation examples include a bomb threat or internal gas leak.

Shelter-in-Place for Hazardous Materials Drill: A response action schools take to quickly move students, staff, and visitors indoors, perhaps for an extended period of time, because it is safer inside the building than outside. Affected individuals may be required to move to rooms without windows or to rooms that can be sealed. Shelter-in-Place for hazmat examples include train derailment with chemical release or smoke from a nearby fire.

Shelter for Severe Weather Drill: A response action schools take to quickly move students, staff, and visitors indoors, perhaps for an extended period of time, because it is safer inside the building than outside. For severe weather, depending on the type and/or threat level (watch vs. warning), affected individuals may be required to move to rooms without windows on the lowest floor possible or to a weather shelter.

Fire Evacuation Drill: A method of practicing how a building would be vacated in the event of a fire. The purpose of fire drills in buildings is to ensure that everyone knows how to exit safely as quickly as possible.

Hold: A response action schools take when hallways need to be cleared. Subsequent bells and any/all scheduled class changes are disregarded. Movement throughout building is stopped until an all-clear signal is given.

Best Practices When you are on campus, you have a responsibility to help us and be the extra eyes and ears of the district. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

Things you should DO:

• DO wear your Raptor Visitor ID when on campus.
• DO report any suspicious activity you see on campus.
• DO report anyone you see walking around campus without an AISD badge or visitor badge to the front office.
• DO keep cell phones charged.
• DO follow the campus emergency procedures.
• DO dial 911 for emergencies.
• DO talk to your children about personal safety and security

Things NOT to do:

• DO NOT allow other visitors to piggyback in to the campus buildings.
• DO NOT encourage or ask students to open doors.
• DO NOT prop doors open behind you.

Together we can work to keep everyone safe.

In accordance with district policy parents and parent guardians will not be allowed into school buildings for drop-off and pick-up. 

Parents/guardians are allowed to join their child(ren) for lunch, volunteer on campus, and be on campus for purposes related to instruction and student support. 

TEA Requirements of Schools This Year

At Widén we are conducting exterior door sweeps to ensure they are closed and locked at least once per week while instruction is being conducted.

All staff is continuing to:

• help ensure school doors lock when entering and exiting buildings
• To not prop doors open
• ensure teachers/staff have working badges
• Practice vigilance for unfamiliar people or suspicious behavior on grounds
• Actively monitor all students from various vantage points