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School Safety

Desert Shadows Emergency Preparedness

Safety is always number one for the administration and staff at Desert Shadows Elementary School. To help prepare our students for any emergencies and enhance their overall safety, we conduct the following practices: 

Fire Drills

DSES participates in monthly fire drills. Students are taught the importance of listening to directions during these drills, as alternate evacuation exits may be needed, in case fire is blocking the primary escape route. These drills are always on a different day and different time in an effort to test numerous schedules throughout the school day.

Lockdowns

In addition, Desert Shadows Elementary also participates in practice lockdowns each semester. These range in scenario, i.e. stranger inside building, stranger on campus, or police situation in the neighborhood.

All of these practices have helped our school be prepared for any situation and be handled in a calm and orderly manner, in return making a very safe environment for our students.

See Campus Visit Procedures

Parking Lot Safety Guidelines and Procedures

Please park in designated spots only (not ends of parking area). We have limited parking so our designated drop-off zones are for curbside drop-off / pick-up only.  

  • Curbside drop off should take a few seconds.
  • Pull up, say your goodbyes, and go.
  • Do not get out of your car.
  • Do not sit and watch student go to playground. Kiss & Go!
  • If you need more time, park in the correct parking area.
  • Please do not leave your car unattended.
  • All cars must move for any emergency vehicles.

As our handbook states, the following procedures apply:

  1. The bus loading / unloading zones are for School and Childcare buses only and not for dropping off or picking up.
  2. Cars should not be left unattended in the drop-off / pick-up area in front of the school, or along the drop-off area that exits from north to south out of our lot.
  3. When picking up or dropping off your child(ren) for school, do not park along the curb line of the parking lot because the flow of traffic will be blocked. Please pull into a parking space. The curb line includes the entire curb, including west of the crosswalk towards the middle school. Your patience and cooperation will ensure a safer environment for our students.
  4. Direct your child(ren) to CROSS ONLY AT THE DESIGNATED CROSSING AREAS.
  5. 5 mph is the expected rate of speed for all vehicles.
  6. The school employees who direct traffic and cross students are acting in the best interests of our children. Please respond to their requests and follow their directions, in a kind respectful way.
  7. Please be patient and model good driving behavior, crosswalk-use behavior, and courtesy to fellow parents and school staff who strive to keep all children safe.
  8. Thank you for your help with keeping our school and students safe.

The safety and security of all PVSchools students and staff is our highest priority. All district staff receive training in a variety of emergency scenarios.

In ​accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), 15-341 (A​​) (31), PVSchools' emergency response plans have been developed by school and district teams to ensure that all schools meet emergency response preparedness guidelines established by the Arizona Department of Education, and the Arizona Division of Emergency Management.

PVSchools Emergency Preparedness

Parents are encouraged to review the resources provided on this page.

Emergency Planning Info for Parents   Emergency Preparedness Summary

Información de preparación en caso de emergencia  Resumen de preparación en caso de emergencia

Make an Anonymous Tip Online

PVSchools works with law enforcement to have all crimes investigated thoroughly. The community should never hesitate to call or email the school or law enforcement if they hear information that might pose a threat to our students or staff safety. Tips can also be submitted online through a portal that allows the tipster to remain anonymous. 

Submit a Tip

Emergency Notifications

PVSchools uses mass messaging to contact families with information about school related items as well as emergency situations. This messaging includes email, phone calls, and SMS text messaging.

If you are a parent or guardian, sign up to receive high-priority and emergency messages to include text messages.

  • Make sure your mobile number is on file with your school via your student's emergency card. Student emergency cards are typically filled out online; however, upon request, the cards can be sent home at the beginning of each school year. If you have phone numbers (either home or mobile) that change during the year, reach out to your school and provide updated phone number information.
  • Once your mobile number is entered into the student information system or anytime your mobile number is updated in the student information system, you will receive an automated text message from our emergency broadcast system asking you to opt-in to the text messaging feature. Please note that you can opt-out at any time, by simply texting the word STOP to 67587.
  • If your mobile number is already on file with the district, you can opt-in at any time by texting the word YES to 67587.
  • Please note, you must opt in each mobile number for your household in order to receive emergency broadcast alerts from your school or the district.

Due to FCC regulations, any time you change or add a mobile number, you will automatically get a new opt-in message from the district.

Please note: The district’s mass messaging system, does not charge any text message fees; however, wireless carriers typically do. Please contact your wireless carrier for more information about text messaging fees.

Additional Resources