Health & Safety Procedures

Emergency Communications Protocols

The safety of our students, employees, and patrons is our highest priority. Every effort is made to mitigate emergency situations; however, emergencies may still occur. With timely response, proactive communication, and properly trained employees, COCA’s goal is to always protect the safety of everyone on our campus, especially during emergency situations.   

For communication purposes, COCA has two categories of emergencies: Evacuation Emergencies and Non-Evacuation Emergencies.   

Evacuation Emergencies 

Evacuation Emergencies can include Fire Emergency, Earthquake Emergency, and Active Shooter.  

During Fire Emergencies, building occupants will evacuate using the nearest, safe exit. Once outside, everyone will gather at the muster point in front of Washington University’s 560 Music Center building, located across Washington Avenue. No one is allowed to leave the scene until the “All Clear” is given by U. City Fire/Police Department.   

After the evacuation is complete and everyone is accounted for, COCA will send email* and text** communication to families, notifying them of the emergency. Email and text communication will also contain instructions for pick-up and/or drop-off, as needed.  

In the event of an Evacuation Emergency, all calls to COCA’s main number, 314.725.6555 ext. 0, will be forwarded to COCA’s mobile emergency phone so that parents, guardians, and students can remain in contact with COCA for real-time updates.  

Non-Evacuation Emergencies 

Non-Evacuation Emergencies can include Facility Emergencies such as a power outage, Severe Weather Emergencies (Lockdown), and “Code Yellow” (Precautionary Lockdown).    

During Non-Evacuation Emergencies, building occupants will be notified of the emergency using COCA’s paging system, and directed to action accordingly. Actions could include moving to a designated shelter location within the building or remaining in their studio until the emergency is lifted. If the building has been placed on lockdown, the doors will be locked, and access to the building will be restricted during this time. Until the lockdown is lifted, patrons should proceed to the parking garage to take shelter. 

In the event of a Non-Evacuation Emergency, COCA will send email* and text** communication to families notifying them of the emergency. Email and text communication will also contain instructions for pick-up and/or drop-off, as needed. COCA’s phone lines will remain active, and parents, guardians, and students can call for real-time updates. COCA will send a follow-up communication to inform families when a lockdown is lifted, and they can access the building. 

*Email notifications will be sent to the email address associated with your registration account. To verify that COCA has the correct email address on file, contact COCA’s Registration Office at 314.725.6555 ext. 1130 or email at registration@cocastl.org. 

**Text notifications will be sent to users who have subscribed to receive text messages from COCA. You must have a cell phone number saved to your household account and choose to opt-in. For information on enrolling in SMS messaging through your online account, refer to our Online Account FAQ. 

General Health & Safety Protocols

• Outside Visitors:
  • COCA’s building is an active space for camps, classes, and performances.
  • Guests may accompany students into COCA. Classes may be observed from outside of the studio or guests may wait in the Centene Commons. 
• Elevator(s):
  • Hand sanitizer will be available for use before and after elevator access.
  • When operating the elevator, using elbows to push the buttons is encouraged.
• Hand Washing:
  • Hand sanitizer will be available in the classrooms, with its use supervised in young children.
• Food:
  • Drinking fountains and touchless water bottle filling stations are open; students are encouraged to bring their own water bottle.
  • There will be no ice, dishes, coffee, or utensils for student use.
  • There will be no food sharing in classrooms or at lunchtime.

• PPE:
  • COCA will have masks available for visitors who wish to wear one.
• Staff Training:
  • COCA Staff is trained in customer service, operational procedures, and emergency preparedness.
• HVAC & Ventilation Systems:
  • COCA’s HVAC systems improve ventilation in the building and increase the percentage of outdoor air. 
• Ongoing Cleaning:
  • COCA utilizes a professional cleaning company that deep cleans and disinfects the facility every night.  
  • A porter will be at COCA when programming is happening on weekends. During the summer, COCA will have a full-time porter.