Safety Policies

At The Nursery School, the safety and well-being of your child are our highest priorities. We have carefully designed emergency plans to ensure a swift and effective response to all types of situations. These plans are reviewed annually and are on file with the local Emergency Management Agency and WVU Police.

To help children feel prepared without fear, we practice “snowball drills” (active shooter drills) twice each semester in a developmentally appropriate manner. Fire drills are conducted monthly, and documentation is available for review by the State Fire Marshal.

As part of your child’s enrollment, families are asked to acknowledge our emergency procedures.

If a child is injured, we will contact parents immediately. If parents are unavailable, we will reach out to the emergency contacts listed on the Emergency Form. If necessary, the Director or teacher will call emergency services while an assistant teacher stays with the child to provide care and comfort.

In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation, The WVU Laboratory School follows a structured plan filed with Monongalia County. If relocation is necessary, children will be taken to either:

• Christian Missionary Church (across from Krepps Park entrance)
• WVU Coliseum (depending on the situation)

Parents will be notified promptly if evacuation is required.

• Weapon-Free Policy: Our Nursery School is a safe, nurturing space where weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited.
• Smoke-Free Campus: To protect children from harmful exposure, smoking or tobacco use (including vaping) is not permitted on school grounds or near the playground.
• Hot Beverage Safety: To prevent accidental spills and burns, beverages over 110°F (such as coffee or tea) are not allowed inside the classrooms.

Capturing special moments is an important part of our program. Teachers document activities through photos, which may be used for classroom projects, learning journals, and—if permitted—publicity. Upon enrollment, families are asked to sign a WVU consent form regarding photography.

For privacy reasons, only staff members are authorized to take and use classroom photos. WVU students are not permitted to take photos of children or share images on social media. If you prefer that your child not be photographed, please let us know.

The Nursery School remains open except in severe weather conditions.

Closure updates are provided in the first newsletter of the school year and sent via the Remind App as needed. For updates, families can check local news, radio stations, or social media.

We love celebrating special moments! If you’d like to bring a treat for your child’s birthday or another occasion, we kindly ask that all food items:

• Be store-bought from a commercial bakery
• Include a clear ingredient list

Some great alternatives to traditional cupcakes and cakes include:

• Fruit cups
• Ice cream
• Pudding cups
• Ice pops