Yucaipa students participate in ShakeOut
It wasn't the real thing, but the students at Park View Middle School reacted like it was on Thursday during the largest earthquake drill in history - the Great Southern California Shakeout.
When the announcement came over the intercom at 10 a.m., students did
as they were taught and told - duck, cover, and hold on. In Sandy
Suchil's seventh grade classroom, within a few seconds all the students
were under their desks with their hands and arms covering their heads.
Jessica Brasher, 12, was in her third-period science class when the "earthquake" struck. She said her classmates reacted quickly and got under their desks. "We've been doing this since Kindergarten," said Jessica. "If the real earthquake (struck) we'd be safe because our teachers know how to keep us safe."
In Stephanie Sharp's seventh grade science class, her students reacted with speed and efficiency. She has also taught them how earthquake waves differ and what to expect.
"We have talked about the different waves, the P (primary) and S (secondary) and how the rolling (secondary) waves cause more damage than the first jolt," said Sharp, "and why we need to cover our heads to protect our brains and our spinal chords from falling objects."
After the initial "earthquake" the students filed out of their classrooms, lined up, and walked to the far side of the school's blacktop playground about 100 yards away from the nearest building. There was no pushing, our load voices. Everyone remained calm, quiet, and orderly.
After they were assembled, teachers took roll call to make certain every student was accounted for. Meanwhile, the security staff scoured each classroom searching for anyone who may have been left behind - as they would in an actual earthquake. And they took additional precaution with a complete campus sweep.
Teachers, staff, and students took the Shakeout seriously. But disaster drills such as the Shakeout are nothing new at the school.
"We prepare by having disaster drills once a month," said Park View Principal, Jeff Litel. "Two months a go we did an entire evacuation drill. We do this often enough that they know what to expect, and they cooperate with the procedures."
Seventh grade teacher, Bob Rosenthal, lined his students up outside, well away from the school. He said that Park View staff has instilled within the students that they must treat disaster drills as the real event. "They take these drill pretty seriously," he said. "I think they did pretty well. I'm very proud of my group."
Eighth grade student, Hank Eurich, 14, ducked and covered under his desk when the alarm sounded, just as his teacher, Joseph Mead instructed the class. "Our teachers know what they are talking about," Eurich said. "I think we will be prepared if an earthquake happens."
Jessica Brasher, 12, was in her third-period science class when the "earthquake" struck. She said her classmates reacted quickly and got under their desks. "We've been doing this since Kindergarten," said Jessica. "If the real earthquake (struck) we'd be safe because our teachers know how to keep us safe."
In Stephanie Sharp's seventh grade science class, her students reacted with speed and efficiency. She has also taught them how earthquake waves differ and what to expect.
"We have talked about the different waves, the P (primary) and S (secondary) and how the rolling (secondary) waves cause more damage than the first jolt," said Sharp, "and why we need to cover our heads to protect our brains and our spinal chords from falling objects."
After the initial "earthquake" the students filed out of their classrooms, lined up, and walked to the far side of the school's blacktop playground about 100 yards away from the nearest building. There was no pushing, our load voices. Everyone remained calm, quiet, and orderly.
After they were assembled, teachers took roll call to make certain every student was accounted for. Meanwhile, the security staff scoured each classroom searching for anyone who may have been left behind - as they would in an actual earthquake. And they took additional precaution with a complete campus sweep.
Teachers, staff, and students took the Shakeout seriously. But disaster drills such as the Shakeout are nothing new at the school.
"We prepare by having disaster drills once a month," said Park View Principal, Jeff Litel. "Two months a go we did an entire evacuation drill. We do this often enough that they know what to expect, and they cooperate with the procedures."
Seventh grade teacher, Bob Rosenthal, lined his students up outside, well away from the school. He said that Park View staff has instilled within the students that they must treat disaster drills as the real event. "They take these drill pretty seriously," he said. "I think they did pretty well. I'm very proud of my group."
Eighth grade student, Hank Eurich, 14, ducked and covered under his desk when the alarm sounded, just as his teacher, Joseph Mead instructed the class. "Our teachers know what they are talking about," Eurich said. "I think we will be prepared if an earthquake happens."
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