Looking outside the big windows at the Courtyard at school.

Emergency information

Be prepared for school schedule changes and emergencies.

School Closures

Occasionally weather or other events may change the regular school routine. Eastside Catholic has a process to make decisions concerning school schedule changes and a communications system to share information with students, parents and guardians.

How are decisions made?

While preserving the safety of the students is the highest priority, Eastside Catholic also endeavors to adhere to the established school calendar when possible. These factors are considered in relation to the risk level involved in transporting students when weather conditions are questionable.

Please remember that your neighborhood may be impacted more or less than the school's location and to make your decisions on your student traveling to school based on the conditions where you live.

Information About School Closures or Delays

Whenever possible, decisions regarding school closure or delay are made by 5 a.m. During inclement weather, check one of the following resources between 5 and 8 a.m. for school schedule updates:

SchoolMessenger: We will use SchoolMessenger to send reminders and emergency notifications via text and phone to parents, guardians, students, faculty and staff. To ensure you receive these important notifications, you must opt-in (text any of the following words to 67587: subscribe, optin, yes) to receive text messages on your phone if you have not already done so.
School website: Pop-up messages will be posted to eastsidecatholic.org
Puget Sound area radio and television stations
Eastside Catholic Facebook @eastsidecatholicschool
Be sure to double-check the resources above just before leaving for school, since there have been rare occasions when conditions have worsened significantly between the time a decision is made (by 5 a.m.) and the actual school start time.

If there is no message about Eastside Catholic, the school is open and running on a regular schedule. We will only post messages when there is a change, i.e., closure or delayed start.

If school is closed, the following will also be canceled:

All before and after school activities
All evening activities, including athletic events and parent meetings
Athletic teams will contact players if their schedules differ

If school starts late:

There will be no Zero period classes or Mass
Buses will run on regular routes but on a two-hour delay as communicated via SchoolMessenger

Subscribe to SchoolMessenger for Emergency Alerts & Reminders

We will use SchoolMessenger to send reminders and emergency notifications via text and phone messages to parents, guardians, students, faculty and staff. To ensure you receive these important notifications, you must opt-in to receive text messages to your phone if you haven't already done so.

Text any of the following words to 67587: subscribe, optin, yes
You’ll know you were successful if you receive the following reply message:

"You're registered 4 SchoolMessenger notifications. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Msg freq varies."
Repeat the opt-in process for any wireless numbers that you wish to include.

If you've already registered for SchoolMessenger through another school or school district, you do not need to register again to receive messages from Eastside Catholic. If you previously registered for SchoolMessenger and opted out of messages, you will need to opt in again to receive messages from EC.

Bus Route Updates

Bus Notification System

The Zonar Z-Pass provides real-time GPS tracking of the buses and parents, guardians and students will have the convenience of tracking their students' bus usage using the Zonar MyView app. Please review this document to learn more about downloading the Zonar MyView app and activating notifications.

The Zonar MyView app code for Eastside Catholic School is ESC035.

Please note: Harlow's will no longer use the RainedOut notification system for bus cancelations and delays.

Two Hour Late Start Bell Schedules

Remember that your neighborhood may be impacted by weather more or less than the school's location.

Please make your decisions on your student traveling to school based on the conditions where you live.

Eastside Catholic School campus covered in white fluffy snow.

Campus Safety Information for Families and Visitors

Eastside Catholic School implements practiced policies and procedures in the event of an emergency.

The below information will help guide visitors or family members when arriving on campus and in the event of an emergency when present on campus.

In general, if you are not on campus, in the event of an actual emergency, please do not call the school or come to campus. Phone lines must be kept open for emergency communications and driveways must be kept clear for first responders. We will notify you via text message first, with an email and a robocall to follow, if needed. Information may also be posted on the school website and social media.

Visitor Sign-In Procedure

Visiting Campus? Please Sign In
When entering the building from the Courtyard or the Athletic Pavilion, you must make the Front Office your first stop. If you are here during a drill or an emergency, we need to know that you are in the building to help ensure your safety.

Sign in
Print and wear a name tag
Sign out when you leave

Please note: Exterior doors are locked during the school day. Please use the intercom at the Front Entrance to gain building access. If your destination is the Athletic Pavilion, you must first sign in at the Front Office.

Evacuation

If you are present during a fire or fire drill, unless otherwise informed, please follow the route of students in the nearest class or office personnel and exit to the football field. You will be directed by an Incidence Response Team member (in a yellow vest) where to gather. Office staff will bring visitor check-in logs with them to the field and take your attendance.

Lockdown

During a lockdown, please quickly proceed to the nearest classroom or office and respect the instructions of the faculty or staff member there. Sit in the area designated by the faculty or staff member, silence your phone and help maintain silence and stillness around you.

Please Note: If a lockdown is announced and you are not already in the building, you will not be allowed in once the doors are locked and should seek shelter elsewhere in the nearby community.

Family Reunification

Due to an emergency event, the school may be required to release students to parents and guardians through our controlled Student Reunification Process.

Reunification of students with their families will occur as soon as it is safe to do so and will be communicated via emergency notifications.

The reunification process is a systematic, time-consuming process to ensure that students are going home with a trusted family member or emergency contact. You will be directed to a location to sign in and present your identification, which will be cross-checked with the emergency release information you provided to the school.

Parents and guardians need to bring their photo identification to pick up their student.

Photo identification allows school staff to verify parents/guardians coming to retrieve their student(s)
Ensure safety of student being released to authorized persons

Your students will be well-cared for by our Incident Response Team members and your cooperation and patience will be appreciated during this time.

What if a Parent or Guardian Can’t Pick Up Their Student?
When a parent or guardian can’t immediately go to the reunification location, students will only be released to individuals previously identified as one of the student’s emergency contacts.

Otherwise, the school will hold students until parents and guardians can pick up their student.

What if the Student Drove to School?

There may be instances where a student may not be allowed to remove a vehicle from the parking lot. In this case, parents and guardians are advised to retrieve their student. In some circumstances, high school students may be released on their own.

Instructions may be given in a student reunification notification message.