On Tuesday, Aug. 20, students were startled during first period on the second day of school when the fire alarm went off unexpectedly at around 9:10 a.m. The evacuation was not a drill, and students standing outside watched as a fire truck pulled into the school.
“At first, I thought it was just a normal fire drill, but then I saw the fire truck and realized, ‘Wait, is this real?’ But then I figured it wasn’t that big of an issue,” sophomore Audrey Wang said.
In ordinary circumstances, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) requires one fire drill every week for the first month of school. Usually, teachers are warned in advance and are able to plan their class around the short drill. However, Tuesday’s evacuation came as a surprise to both teachers and students. The cause was a minor mechanical issue that triggered the alarm to go off.
“The fire department arrived on campus and determined that there was a mechanical issue. FCPS maintenance personnel were on-site to evaluate and repair the problem. Students and staff returned to the building at 9:30 a.m., and normal operations resumed,” an email sent to Jefferson families later in the morning said.
Students and teachers shared mixed opinions about the evacuation. Many students were happy for an excuse to get out and catch the early sunshine.
“The evacuation actually made me more engaged. I felt like the sudden alarm woke me up because I was tired in the beginning,” Wang said.
However, teachers were less enthusiastic about the disruption. With many classes running on tight schedules during the first few days of school, the evacuation was seen as an unwelcome interruption to valuable class time. Teachers typically use this time to set expectations, start on class material, and administer pre-tests to prepare for the year. TJ Math 4, for example, had to postpone the first knowledge check of the year due to the evacuation, which took around 20 minutes for students to re-enter the classroom.
“I think it’s already overwhelming to be in class at eight in the morning on the first real school day of the year, so it just added to their stress and anxiety. Students were anxious about missing class time and how that was going to affect their very first quiz. It definitely added to their stress,” TJ Math 4 teacher Miranda Callahan said.
In the end, the disruption was minor and provided an opportunity for students to socialize with new and old classmates- – a plus during the first few days of school. It also served as a reminder of the importance of flexibility and the ability to adapt to whatever curveballs the upcoming school year may bring.
“I got to talk and bond with my classmates. It was a little disruptive, but I think most people enjoyed not having to spend time sitting in a classroom,” Wang said.