ALICE drills
September 2026
Dear Families:
Starting in October, in conjunction with our community safety agencies, Haverhill Public Schools will be conducting A.L.I.C.E. drills in each of our buildings. For more information about A.L.I.C.E., please read the Frequently Asked Question below. Further information is available at: https://www.alicetraining.com/ and https://www.haverhill-ps.org/security/k-6-alice-training-information/.
From the students' perspective, this will seem like a simulation exercise involving a real threat in the building. Our school will conduct our drill sometime during the first two weeks of October. Similar to fire drills, we are not able to share the exact date of each A.L.I.C.E. drill in advance; however, the school will inform families following the drill.
Please understand that the successful implementation of A.L.I.C.E. throughout our school community is essential for the safety and well-being of our students and staff. To better prepare for any of these events, our staff and students should be trained in what to expect and how to react. Our goal of A.L.I.C.E. best practices training is to replace fear and hopelessness during emergencies with preparation and readiness in the face of adverse circumstances.
Again, please be reassured that we are conducting these drills as part of our yearly A.L.I.C.E. training so that our students and staff can implement strategies learned to better prepare for and make informed decisions about a variety of emergency situations.
Sincerely,
Eileen Doherty
Principal, Consentino School
A.L.I.C.E. Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.L.I.C.E.?
A.L.I.C.E. is a school safety program created in 2000 to offer additional options to students and staff in dealing with an armed intruder situation. Two individuals who founded and developed the program are long-term law enforcement professionals. A 30-year educational professional is a member of the team and works to ensure that A.L.I.C.E. teaching/training materials are age-appropriate, psychologically sound, and address the issues of individuals with special needs.
What do the letters stand for in the name A.L.I.C.E.?
A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym that stands for:
ALERT: Get the word out that a threat exists
LOCKDOWN: Secure a place to stay as a starting point to buy time.
INFORM: Give constant, real-time information throughout the building using all available technology.
COUNTER: This is the last resort. Individuals are unable to escape. Countering may be as simple as creating a distraction to allow opportunities to run.
EVACUATE: The goal is to move students out of the danger zone. It’s essential to be prepared to escape.
Why do we need to add anything more? Isn’t it enough to lock the building and keep students inside if someone threatens them?
Traditionally, schools have used a procedure known as “lockdown,” which essentially means locking the school building and classrooms and having students and teachers take shelter in their classrooms. We believe that offering additional age-appropriate options will allow our students and teachers to be better prepared if a crisis occurs. Providing a constant flow of information to everyone inside the building can help in safely evacuating the building. Rescue by the police can take some time. An essential goal of the A.L.I.C.E. program is to evacuate as many people as possible to a safe place.
How many organizations are currently using A.L.I.C.E. as part of their safety protocols?
Nearly 2 million students have been trained or exposed to this program. Although A.L.I.C.E. was started in a kindergarten through grade 12 school setting, the program is now being used in universities, colleges, churches, corporations, and government offices. Haverhill area police departments, school districts, and other organizations are adopting this program to enhance their current safety protocols.