Safety, Security and School Access

Capitol Hill School is committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming and well-supervised learning environment for students, staff and visitors. In alignment with CBE safety and security expectations, our school maintains perimeter security during the school day. This means exterior doors remain locked and access to the building is managed through the main entrance and school office.

These procedures help us know who is in the building, support student supervision, and ensure students are released only through appropriate office processes.

Entering the School

All guests, volunteers and parents/guardians must use the front entrance and report directly to the school office.

Upon arrival, all visitors are required to sign in at the office. Volunteers must also obtain and visibly display a volunteer tag for the duration of their time in the school.

Parents/guardians should not go directly to classrooms, learning spaces or student entry doors. Office staff are available to assist with questions, appointments, late arrivals, early departures and student drop-off or pick-up needs.

Drop-Off and Dismissal

During regular entry and dismissal times, parents/guardians are asked to wait outside the school at the designated doors or meeting areas. This helps staff maintain clear supervision routines and supports a safe, orderly transition for students.

When dropping off or picking up students outside regular entry or dismissal times, parents/guardians must report to the main office.

In severe weather or when safety conditions require, the school will make appropriate arrangements for student entry and supervision.

Picking Up Students During the School Day

Parents/guardians picking up a student for an appointment must report to the office and wait there for their child.

The parent/guardian is responsible for signing the student out at the school office. Students may only be released to an authorized adult listed on the student’s Emergency Contact List, and parent/guardian consent is required before release.

To support student safety, students will not be released directly from classrooms or exterior doors.

Volunteers

All volunteers must follow CBE volunteer requirements before volunteering at the school or participating in school activities. After signing in at the office, volunteers must obtain and display a volunteer tag for the duration of their visit.

Volunteers are expected to follow school procedures, maintain confidentiality, and remain in the areas or activities connected to their volunteer role.

Adventurers School Age Care Program Access

The Adventurers School Age Care Program uses the east parking lot entrance for program drop-off and pick-up. Families must follow Adventurers’ drop-off and pick-up procedures. When dropping off or picking up a child, families should call the Adventurers Program directly and wait outside. Adventurers staff will meet students at the east parking lot entrance.

Emergency Preparedness

Capitol Hill School maintains an Emergency Response Plan to guide staff and students in responding to a variety of possible emergency situations. Staff and students practise emergency procedures during the school year so that they know how to respond safely and calmly.

CBE schools conduct fire drills and lockdown practices in accordance with CBE requirements. This includes six fire drills per year and two lockdown drills per year with the support of Calgary Police Service.

In an actual emergency, the school will communicate with families as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. To support timely communication and safe student release, families are asked to ensure the school office has current phone numbers, emergency contacts, custody information and relevant medical information.

For security reasons, detailed emergency procedures and relocation information may not be posted publicly. Families with questions about emergency preparedness may contact the school office.

Emergency School Closure or Evacuation

If an emergency school closure or evacuation is required, students will remain supervised by school staff and will be released only through established student release procedures. Students will only be released to authorized adults, based on the information available in school records and emergency contacts.

Families will receive instructions from the school or CBE through appropriate communication channels.