Emergency Procedures

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. The information below will assist parents and families in the event of an emergency. For your safety and the safety of your child, please do not come to the school to retrieve students unless notified to do so.

Emergency & Communication Information

Emergency Dos & Don'ts

Do..

Prepare In Advance

Bookmark our website

We will post the latest available information on our homepage. Check back frequently for updates and instructions on when and where you can pick up your child if parent pick-up is necessary.

Download the Remind App

Remind our school-to-home communication platform. You can set your language preference and your delivery preference: text message, email, and/or push notifications. We will use the email address and phone number you used for your student’s registration to activate your account and keep up-to-date with your child's school. Once logged in, you can set up your own notification preferences.

Get Connected

Make sure we have your current phone number and email address in Final Forms so we can reach you quickly with an automated call, text, or email about an emergency situation. Update your contact information with your school office.

Don't..

If Something Happens
Don't rush to the school

Coming to school may put you or your child at great risk. Additional people on the scene distract first responders from their primary job – student safety. Instead, check our website, social media, your email, or your phone for information and instructions.

Don’t call the school or district office

Resources are stretched thin during emergencies. Incoming calls take away from our ability to get updates to you through our website, email, and phone calls.

Have A Family Plan

Each family should have a plan for what to do if your child arrives home early due to an emergency situation, including the following:

Is your child prepared with warm clothing, including gloves, hats and boots, if it is winter weather?
What is the best route home if your child cannot be delivered to the normal bus stop?
Where could they go if they needed help?
Who would care for them until you arrive?
If you are not available, is there someone your child knows to call if they are upset or afraid?

Communication

In the event of inclement weather, threat to campus, or other emergency event, Sycamore Community Schools will implement safety procedures and may change school start or dismissal times for student safety.

Here are the ways we communicate emergency information:

Email notifications. Please provide the school with your current email address or update it in Final Forms.
Automated phone calls. Please provide your school with current telephone numbers to reach you and other emergency contacts or update this information in Final Forms.
Remind text messages/emails/app notifications. Please make sure you have opted in to receiving our communications via Remind by logging into your Remind account.
Announcements on our district website.
Announcements on social media. Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Announcements on TV and radio.

Please note: If you have opted out of phone calls or emails, you will not be notified in the event of an emergency. Please contact helpdesk@sycamoreschools.org if you would like to opt out or opt back in.

Reunification Site

In the event of an emergency where an evacuation of any of our school buildings is necessary, students will be transported to safety at Sycamore Community Schools’ Reunification Site:

Blue Ash Recreation Center, 4433 Cooper Rd. Blue Ash, OH 45242.Families should report to this location to pick up their student(s) unless notified otherwise. DO NOT report to your child's school. In the event of an emergency, we will need to keep traffic clear for emergency responders. You will need to bring some form of ID in order to have your child released to you.

HELPFUL TIP: Consider saving the Blue Ash Rec Center's address in Google Maps or a similar GPS app. That way, you are not scrambling to remember where to go should the district need to evacuate students.

Weather Delays/Closures

In the event of inclement weather, the district may implement one of the following plans:

Schools Closed: All Sycamore schools will be closed for the day, latch-key programs will not operate, and all after-school activities will be canceled unless those involved are notified otherwise.
2-Hour Delay: School buses will run on a 2-hour delay, and morning preschool, morning kindergarten, and Head Start classes will be canceled. Afternoon kindergarten, afternoon preschool, and afternoon Head Start classes will operate as usual. Dismissals for all other grades will occur as usual. The two hours will be added to the original start for your students’ building.
Early dismissal: Early dismissals are rarely called. However, Sycamore Schools would greatly appreciate it if you reviewed your family's plan with your students for after-school arrangements.

When should I expect to receive notification of a school closing/delay due to the weather?

The district makes every effort to make a decision early enough to give families time to make child care arrangements. However, winter weather can be unpredictable and often storms move in during the overnight/early morning hours. Calls will be made no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m.

In the case of an emergency:

Please visit our District Homepage for the latest emergency alerts and updates.

To report an emergency at one of our schools or facilities, call 911. You can also contact the Ohio SaferSchools Tip Line anonymously via text or phone at 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764). The line is monitored 24/7.

Learn more about safety procedures, our Safe and Secure Schools Committee, and our safety training by visiting our Safety & Security page.

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