In Alaska, the federal, state and the Anchorage School District make many rules and regulations on how to keep the schools safe from danger.

The students at Dimond High may know about the lockdowns and drills that they practice, but many have no idea about the importance behind every step the school takes as a precaution.

At Dimond, many of the students view drills as a way to “take time out of class” as Zach Baker, a sophomore, said.

Drills at Dimond are more important than just a way to get out of class.

“It’s a way to precaution students and staff for what could come if a danger ever comes to Dimond,” said Holly Morris, assistant principal for student services.

Some of the students at Dimond know some of the importance of drills, but some drills are harder to understand than other.

Clarissa Alexie, a sophomore, knows the importance of drills, and she knows what to do during most of them. The one she did not know when it was mentioned was shelter in place.

Many students, not only Alexie, have no idea what Shelter in Place is.

Shelter in place, as Morris states, is a “way to protect the students and staff from chaos like a volcano. When the ashes come into the building, the students and staff need to be away from open vents in the building where that ash can come in, so we turn down the air and close off the doors and go far away.”

Fire drills happen once a month, as directed by the district. Lockdown  and shelter in place drills, on the other hand, happen every semester. Earthquake and stay put drills happen every quarter.

Drills at Dimond and in Alaska are extremely important. With all of the earthquakes that happen and all of the volcanoes in Alaska, its always good to be prepared.

Last year, during third period at Dimond, the students heard the Principal, Cheryl Guyett, come onto the public address speakers, telling the teachers to go into stay put. Many didn’t know what was going on. Anna Guy, a sophomore at Dimond, even though the stay put was a drill.

After a few minutes, they heard their principal again, but instead of taking them off stay put, the school was put into lockdown.

More than anything, the students were confused about what was going on.

After the lockdown was over, news spread quickly about what had happened during the lockdown, but everyone was safe.

In an interview, Guyett said the she was “very proud of the students and staff for a job well done during the lockdown. They did a great job.”

Drills at Dimond, and everywhere for that matter, are very important for students, staff and everyone at the school to keep them safe from the dangers of the world.