The way in which a school community deals with a crisis situation is a test of its sense of community. This guidebook, intended for Catholic-school principals, presents a detailed plan to help schools establish crisis-management teams and offers directions for their operation. Chapter 1 presents an overview of crisis management and focuses on how this concept differs in Catholic schools and public schools. Chapter 2 offers suggestions for developing a crisis-management team within a school. The third chapter focuses on a systematic plan for assessing the level of crisis, involving the team in a process that allows them to develop a more intimate knowledge of the school site and buildings. Team training and preparing for crisis response are discussed in the fourth chapter. The role of the principal in developing the team and working with the team during an actual crisis is the focus of chapter 5. Chapter 6 provides suggestions for training and crisis management from the teacher's perspective. The seventh chapter considers how the faith dimension serves as a resource during times of crisis, which can help students deal with a crisis event. Chapter 8 offers suggestions and a rationale for incorporating mental health professionals in a coordinated crisis-response program. Tips for dealing with parents are offered in chapter 9. Chapter 10 examines the role played by the priest/pastor during a school-related emergency, and chapter 11 summarizes the themes of the book. Appendices contain an outline for developing a crisis-team response manual, a sample agenda for a crisis-team workshop, and a series of practice simulations. A brief annotated bibliography is included. (LMI)