News from the Nest

At Aberdeen High School, the safety and security of our students and staff is our highest priority. Our school motto for this year’s safety efforts is:
“Eagles are Proactive and Prepared, Not Scared.”

We believe that by being intentional, calm, and consistent in our practices, we can create a safe environment where students feel secure and ready to learn.

Monthly Practice Drills

Beginning in September, our school will have monthly practice safety drills. To minimize anxiety and confusion, each drill will be clearly announced to teachers and students before it begins. For example, a message will be shared in plain language, such as: “This is a lockdown drill” or “This is an evacuation drill.”

In September, we will begin with a three-part drill and review session to ensure all students understand the different types of drills, their purposes, and the expectations for their participation. From that point forward, we will hold at least one drill per month.

Later in this newsletter, you will find a guide to all drill types so that you may review them with your student.

Parent/Guardian Communication After Lockdown Drills

After each lockdown drill, parents/guardians, students, and teachers will receive a short survey by email. This survey will give us valuable feedback on how the drill was experienced and how we can continue to improve safety practices.

Partnering with Parents

We ask that you please emphasize to your student(s) the importance of:

• Listening carefully to their teacher’s instructions.
• Following directions quickly and calmly during both drills and actual emergencies.
• Taking every drill seriously, as practice helps everyone remain safe.

District and County Safety Enhancements

HCPS and Harford County Government have continued to prioritize safety efforts, and you will notice several updates throughout the 2026–2027 school year:

• Increased lighting and expanded surveillance both inside the school and across campus grounds.
• More frequent use of the Open Gate security system at school events, during daily entrance, and the occasional pop up during school lunch.
• Continued bag restrictions during the school day and at athletic and extracurricular events.

We know these updates may occasionally cause minor delays at entrances, but please know that these steps are all taken with one purpose: to ensure the safety and security of our school community.

“If You See Something, Say Something”

Many of our most proactive safety measures have come from students and parents alerting staff to concerns. By speaking up, we have often been able to intervene early and prevent situations from escalating. Please continue to encourage your student to share any safety concerns with a trusted adult at school.

Our Goal

Ultimately, our goal is to create a culture where students and staff are proactive and prepared, not scared. With your partnership, we can ensure that Aberdeen High School remains a safe, secure, and supportive place for learning.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for reinforcing these important messages at home.

This year the safety and security team at Aberdeen High School includes one old and one new SRO: Officer Baust and Officer Zewick, both are officers of the Aberdeen Police Department who are trained to work in schools and build relationships with students and staff while focusing on the safety of the Building. These officer will be at our building daily. Additionally Officer McMeekin will continue to assist us as needed while also focusing more time at our elementary feeder schools. If you see them at the school or an event, please feel free to say hello.

Common Types of Drills that will be practiced during the school year:

• Lockdown Drills: Prepare students and staff for a potential threat inside or near the building, requiring them to lock doors and stay quiet.
• Hold Drills: Similar to a lockdown drill but instruction can continue.
• Evacuation Drills: Focus on safely leaving the building to a predetermined, safer location.
• Shelter Drills: Prepare for events like tornadoes, earthquakes, or thunderstorms by seeking shelter.
• Active Assailant Drills: Train participants on how to respond to a threat from a person with a weapon, often involving lockdown or evacuation procedures.
• Secure Drills: Used when a threat is outside the building and the building itself is the safest place to be.

This newsletter serves as notice of the types of drills and parents can expect multiple drills to occur throughout the school year during various class periods to ensure that students are knowledgeable and prepared. The schedule of drills will not be released publicly to ensure campus security.

The Run, Hide, Fight strategy provides three actions for survival during an active shooter event, in order of preference: Run to safety and escape the area, Hide if escape isn't possible by securing a location and becoming unnoticeable, and Fight as a last resort only when in immediate danger, by using any available objects to incapacitate the attacker. This strategy was developed and promoted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is considered a best practice by the FBI.