We are a group of high school seniors who are part of a community that recently experienced a scare incident, which has shined light on the lack of preparedness within our school. We were clearly not prepared for how to handle the situation, as some students ran off campus, while others ran into classrooms.  Teachers, students, and parents were not notified or aware of what was happening during the situation, as there was a lack of communication as well. In light of this recent incident, it became clear that our school is not adequately prepared to respond to potential dangers.

Our current intruder protocol indicates that we should hide in our classroom come an intruder or scare on campus, but sometimes this may not be the most effective response. 

Our proposal is to adopt the 'Run-Hide-Fight' policy in our school. This policy advocates for a more proactive approach, teaching students and staff to evaluate the situation and decide whether it's best to run, hide, or fight. A yearly assembly dedicated to familiarizing students and staff with this policy could make a significant difference in the outcome of potential threats. 

According to a study by the US Department of Homeland Security, understanding and practicing such protocols can dramatically increase survival rates during an active shooter event. The purpose of school is to provide a safe learning environment, yet we are falling short in ensuring physical safety. 

It's time our school educates students and staff about taking potentially life saving decisions and creating situational awareness in face of danger. This goes beyond enhancing security, as it also instills a sense of reassurance among everyone in the school environment and confidence on what actions to take. Please sign our petition to convince our educational authorities to implement this 'Run-Hide-Fight' policy at school.