WMS Safety

URGENT - Family Contact Information:  At the start of each school year, families are asked to provide emergency contact information for parents/guardians and other key contacts for their child.  It is very important to keep this information current at all times.  

Please call the office if you change home, work or cell phone numbers, revise your email, and/or if you move.  Also, families are urged to sign up for texting, which is especially useful in the event of an emergency.

COVID-19 Safety/Mitigation Guidelines - Please go to top of WMS website home page for links to Covid information from the State Department of Health, CDC and Public Charter Commission.  

All Campus Visitors & Volunteers Must Check Into Office First:  WMS and WES are "closed campuses." All guests to campus – including families, guest presenters, delivery personnel and contract services – must check in at the office to obtain a Visitor’s Pass before proceeding onto campus for any reason during the school day.  No exceptions. 

Visitor Parking:  Limited Visitor Parking is provided in front of the middle school office near the flag poles.  Please do not park in numbered stalls as they are all assigned.  

No Parking Or Driving Please On The Field:  To protect sprinklers, please NEVER drive or park on the field.  

Student Safety On Campus

MORNING BELL / START OF SCHOOL:  7:55 a.m.  Student must be in class by 8 a.m.  Tardy students must check into the office for a tardy pass. 

AFTERNOON BELL / END OF SCHOOL:  2:15 p.m. except Wednesdays @ 1:15 p.m.

The school's main Entry Drive from Mamalahoa Highway is open to two-way traffic on school days ONLY from 7:55 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Before 7:55 a.m. and after 2 p.m., traffic is restricted to one-way only via the back entry gate.  (Time shifts to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays as students are released at 1:15 p.m.) 

Caution:  5 MPH Speed Limit On Campus: When driving on campus, please observe the 5 MPH speed limit for the safety of students, faculty and staff.  

Bus Safety Reminder:  By law it is illegal to pass a school bus when its lights are flashing and STOP sign is out. 

No Dogs On Campus:  No dogs are allowed on campus or at school events except certified, registered Service Animals.  No exceptions.  

Before/After-School Student Safety:  

To assure maximum student safety on campus after school, the following safety procedures and expectations apply:   

• Once students arrive on campus they must remain on campus until leaving for the day.

• Students who ride the bus must remain on campus between L and W buildings until boarding time. 

• Once students leave campus for any reason, they are not allowed to return. The library is considered off campus.

• For those students who do not catch the bus, they must leave campus immediately after school or wait for their pick-ups at the cafeteria.  The library is an off campus community building, and students should not loiter or disrupt library patrons, but rather use the library services appropriately.

• Students are not allowed to “hang out” or play basketball, etc. 

• If students have Athletics, they are to stay in the designated area for their sport and may not roam campus.  Coaches are asked to provide needed supervision of team members after school.

• If students have other after-school activities (K-Arts, Robotics, etc.), they are to stay in the designated area as defined by the adult leading the activity

• If students have Tutoring or Homework Help, the above-mentioned policies are in effect after Tutoring.

• If students are not where they are supposed to be, staff will assume that they are "hanging out" or roaming and students will be escorted off campus.

• All students must leave campus when the last bus leaves.  Exceptions are made for students involved in after-school activities such as Homework Help, Athletics, Robotics, K-Arts, 21st Century programs, etc.

• After school hours, it is considered “Trespassing” to “hang out” on campus.  Students and community may not be on campus except for administratively authorized classes, events or activities. 

What Families Can Expect During An Emergency: 

WMS has a complete School Safety Plan and teachers, staff and students regularly participate in fire drills and other procedures to be fully prepared.  In the event of an emergency, families are asked not to come to the WMS campus but to patiently wait for information from the school by a School Connects call/email/text, and via the school website or Facebook page. The school will communicate with the Police, Fire and other emergency responders as well as Civil Defense and families, as appropriate. Further, the school will do its best to keep local radio stations informed during an emergency, as appropriate.

Schoolwide Emergency Response Procedures & Drills:

WMS has a comprehensive School Safety Plan and teachers, staff and students regularly participate in fire drills and other safety procedures to familiarize all on what to do in the event of an emergency.  Emergency alarms serve both Waimea Elementary and Middle schools so both schools coordinate and participate in all drills.    

What Students Should Do:  Whenever hearing alarms or bells, students are asked to stop what they are doing and quietly listen to and follow instructions from their teacher or school staff member.  Teachers brief students on procedures, including what to do if an alarm is sounded when passing between classes, at recess or attending class on the field, in the gym, library or Mala’ai garden. 

What Families Should Do:  If it’s a drill, families do not need to respond. However, in the event of a real incident, families will be notified by School Connects calls/ClassDojo, emails/texts home regarding the incident and providing as much information as possible. WMS also has a website and Facebook page where information will be posted. Families may also turn on a local radio station immediately for information. The school will continue to provide information updates to families through phone calls/emails/texts, website, Facebook and radio stations as well as police, fire and other emergency services (i.e., American Red Cross, Civil Defense) as the situation warrants. 

For the safety of all, families should NOT come to campus until informed to do so directly by the school, media, police or Civil Defense. 

Important Emergency Preparedness Information

Please follow this link to the official Hawai'i County Emergency Preparedness Website. They include family emergency kit checklists, planning, etc.  Also information on local emergency shelters.  

Depending on the emergency, Waimea Middle School may provide an emergency shelter in L-04, which includes a certified kitchen, but this is determined by Civil Defense working with American Red Cross.