Sonoraville Elementary School students moved out of the classrooms and lined the hallways, crouched with their heads down, knees tucked under and arms over their heads following an intercom announcement of a tornado.

Teachers counted students and lights were turned off in a few hallways; the mock drill, which took place Wednesday, was both a realistic and a dramatic enactment of real tornado conditions.

Calhoun and Gordon County schools, along with their counterparts around the state participated in the drill, which tested the school’s emergency procedures.

The activity was part of Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, which began Monday and continued through Friday.

On Wednesday, all local public schools were placed under a mock tornado watch, followed by a tornado warning, to which students and staff responded quickly.

Sonoraville Elementary School Assistant Principal Elizabeth Anderson said she was proud of the school’s response and the outcome of the drill.

“It went extremely smoothly and students got into position, and even when we turned out the lights in some areas, they did a great job,” Anderson said.

During the mock tornado watch, a visitor surprised Sonoraville Elementary teachers and staff.

Gordon County’s Emergency Management Agency director Richard Cooper watched every move of the students, staff and facility, observing the strengths and weaknesses of the new school, closely.

“They did a wonderful job and got out of the classrooms quickly,” he said.

Georgia’s tornado season typically begins in March and ends in May, but tornadoes can occur anytime of year.

While tornados have never posed a threat while local schools have been in session, Cooper said one did rip through the gym of Calhoun High School in 2003 when school was out.

“Practicing is the main thing and walking through the drills and finding the best place to go,” Cooper said. “Drills will help kids not panic.”