Need prayers for safety of our students and staff [Archive]

Cookin4Love

05-25-2005, 02:31 PM

We have all just been notified by our administrator that there are students who are planning to bring weapons onto campus tomorrow--the last day of school. They won't tell us any more than that. I don't know if they know who it is, or if there is any truth behind the rumor. I work in an inner city school within a violent neighborhood, so it's not outside the realm of possibility. So many kids feel like they can do anything they want on the last day without repercussions. This is one of the first times I've been really nervous. Of course, our administration wants everything to appear as if it's "business as usual," so we're to keep doors unlocked, etc.

Please say a prayer for us that we will all walk out of here safe at the end of the day tomorrow.

ChristyMarie

05-25-2005, 02:46 PM

Oh my gosh, and they aren't taking any precautions??? Are they telling parents? I have to say, if they aren't I'd be very tempted to give the local media a call. Too many things have happened to not take something like this seriously.

You'll be in my prayers ~ please let us know what happens.

colleency

05-25-2005, 02:57 PM

:( Be safe. I send good wishes.

rosie_one

05-25-2005, 02:59 PM

Yikes... how scary. Good luck, keep safe.

sneezles

05-25-2005, 03:28 PM

I hope that this ends up being just a rumor and that you end the day and the school year on a hppy note!

Grace

05-25-2005, 04:21 PM

Yeah - seems to me they'd be open for some MAJOR LEAGUE law suits too if something DOES happen, and it comes to light that they knew of the threat and did nothing! What's wrong with the world nowdays!? I'm so sorry you have to be stressed like this. Feeling safe is a basic most of us take for granted. And although you've been instructed not to lock your door, I'd be tempted just go ahead and break the rules if I were you! I'd rather be in trouble for rule breaking than, well, I don't even want to say it.....

Beth

05-25-2005, 04:31 PM

I have to believe they are taking precautions. I also suspect they know more and are doing more than is being said -- with some of the secrecy to protect against anyone who might be planning anything from being able to know what to plan against.

I had goosebumps reading your post. You most definitely have all my best wishes and prayers for everyone there. Try to sleep well tonight so you can be alert.

vbak

05-25-2005, 06:31 PM

Cookin- another teacher chiming in. My thoughts are with you. I pray that all of you n=make it through the last day. I hope admin. is doing something about it.

Vicky

jmarie

05-25-2005, 06:46 PM

I know you are worried and upset about this....even if it is a rumor, it's terrible that someone would even think up something like this..... Having been through a couple of bomb scares, I understand your fears and am praying for you.
Joyce:(

Cookin4Love

05-25-2005, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by Beth
I have to believe they are taking precautions. I also suspect they know more and are doing more than is being said -- with some of the secrecy to protect against anyone who might be planning anything from being able to know what to plan against.

With a different administration, I'd agree with you. With this administration, however, I'm sure their entire line of defense is "teacher alertness." They put it all on the teachers instead of taking action with the kids.

I do plan to break the rules and keep my doors locked and my kids in. No potty passes, no drinks--they can wait an hour and a half until they go to their next class. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

lindrusso

05-25-2005, 07:01 PM

Oh goodness, how scary. Big prayers going up for you all that everything goes well tomorrow.

Very sad that you even have to worry for one second. :(

Alysha

mbrogier

05-25-2005, 07:21 PM

I'll be praying for you. I'd be locking doors and doing everything I could possibly do as well.

A girl up here got a knife in school by wrapping it up like a birthday present. It went right through the metal detector. She stabbed a classmate with it. No one thought anything about a birthday present. Sick, sick, sick.

ccooney

05-25-2005, 07:43 PM

(((((Cookin4love)))))
Prayers are on their way.

Jewel

05-25-2005, 07:45 PM

Please keep safe...this is just so sad. :(

knunes

05-25-2005, 07:50 PM

Another educator here sending positive energy in your direction.

Leslie Ferguson

05-25-2005, 09:49 PM

What a world we live in - consider it done and prayers being lifted for you, your students, the school staff and administrators, and teh families of each and every student at your school.

Peace,
Les

imloulou

05-25-2005, 10:01 PM

Oh...that is horrible! Can you do anything to protect yourself or your class? Of course a weapon is out of the question but can you at least carry mace? Sports Authority and Sports Acadamy both sell it (I carry it walking at night)

Is there any chance that it is a student in your class?

As a parent I would want to know this tidbit of info...a missed day of school is not even comparable to a day of worry...or worse!!!!!

I just feel (and pray...and I dont pray often) for you and your entire school tomorrow!

Peace,

EDITING TO ADD: Please check in tomorrow after school and let us know everything is ok!!

kima

05-25-2005, 10:02 PM

I too will send you positive, peaceful thoughts for tomorrow.

What level of school do you work at?

Cookin4Love

05-26-2005, 05:43 AM

Thanks for all the prayers, guys. Lisa, I can't take any kind of protective spray with me. That is considered a weapon under our district (and probably state) rules. And I would say there is a good possibility that it would be a student in one of my classes--but it could just as well be any class. My car was vandalized twice early this year by my students, but there was no effort made to find out who did it, even though I had some "word on the street" information. We have the boxes to hold security cameras all over our school and parking lot, but they refuse to put cameras in them. Our superintendent feels that would be sending the message that we don't trust our students and neighborhoods. I can't even follow that line of reasoning. Of course we don't trust them--our school is tagged every day, staff vehicles are vandalized regularly, other damage is done...but I digress.

Kima, I teach in a grades 4-8 school. My students are 7th grade.

Thank you all for joining me in prayers. I will post the minute the kids leave and let you all know that we made it through the day unscathed.

I hate feeling nervous about going to school. This is a sad day.

NewMrsG

05-26-2005, 06:16 AM

How awful for you all - I'll be thinking about you as well and hoping to hear good news at the end of the day.

tperes

05-26-2005, 06:47 AM

I am just now reading this post, and if you are in Eastern Time, you must be at school by now.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your colleagues, and students. I will be checking back in later today to make sure all went okay.

I can't believe the lame-o stance taken by the admin. They obviously have never had a lawsuit filed against them, or they are too idealistic for everyone's good.

Hope you can enjoy the last day of school!

Tanya

CompassRose

05-26-2005, 06:48 AM

Schools... have... metal ... detectors? http://ellis.dyndns.biz/users/chinwag/emoticons/neutral/unsure.gif

Cookin, may you and all your kids be safe today. Please let us know you're okay.

manetta

05-26-2005, 07:34 AM

How horrible! I find it so sad that you have to worry about something as disturbing as this on what should be a fun day for you and your students. I am sending good and peaceful thoughts your way.

newtricks

05-26-2005, 08:14 AM

I just want to say that I really admire your bravery for going to work today. I guess teachers these days are like firefighters and soldiers - you go in places that most of us would run from.:(

My prayers are with you.

MISSINDI

05-26-2005, 08:22 AM

Missed this post yesterday, but hope all is ok. Cookin4Love - you out there? How can they expect everyone to carry on "business as usual" with a threat/warning like that? My thoughts and prayers are still with you.

Beth

05-26-2005, 08:41 AM

I hate to see that kind of attitude from teh administration -- a weak administration makes everything below it suffer. I am looking at trying to transfer my younger son a year from now rather than have him go to the school my older son will be leaving at the end of the day -- because of the administration and the fact that about half of the teachers are expected to leave this summer -- most of the best ones, and haven't heard on others. At least we are not worrying about guns and knives.

I hope all will be well for you and all those at your school. God bless.

Cookin4Love

05-26-2005, 08:59 AM

We've made it through the morning arrivals without incident. The police were doing cruise-bys while I was out on duty. My students and I are in my classroom with the door locked and no one going in and out. What's crazy (other than the whole situation) is we're not supposed to let the students know anything is amiss. But, so far so good. I'll keep you posted. Thank you for the continued support and prayers.

Kay Henderson

05-26-2005, 10:18 AM

As a retired teacher, I am horrified and will keep you in my thoughts all day.

Now it is certainly possible that your school and district are taking very special precautions that they have not shared with you. But if not, when this is over, your teacher's association (union or whatever) needs to raise a very big stink with the district.

Please let us know how all of this turns out.

Kay

MrsReber

05-26-2005, 11:02 AM

Praying for a quiet day for you! That is horrible that you can't do anything or let the parents know. I guess all the kids would have been home if the parents knew. It seems so scary these days.

leightx

05-26-2005, 11:19 AM

Hope your afternoon is quiet and uneventful!

We had quite a few bomb and weapon threats when I taught high school (it sounds like our school was in a similar sort of neighborhood). It was always a little nerve-wracking, especially since I taught science and all of the chemicals for our labs were stored behind my classroom! :eek: Luckily, all of the bomb threats were just that - threats.

One of the high schools in my town was evacuated yesterday, on the last day of school and finals, because a student called in a bomb threat. The students had to sit outside (in 95+ degree heat) for several hours while the police scoured the building. They didn't find anything, and those poor kids are going to have to go to school tomorrow, on what should have been their first day of summer vacation, to take their finals. :(

Cookin4Love

05-26-2005, 12:07 PM

I'm going to have to shut down the computer in a few minutes, but so far everything has been fine-as far as I know. They are making some announcement--no students are to be outside, everyone exiting through a single gate. I hope all will be okay until we get everyone out of here. I will post again tonight with a verification. Thanks again for all the prayers.

Peggy

05-26-2005, 06:39 PM

So glad to hear that everything is going well so far. I'll be anxious to hear the final report tonight.

Peggy

CindyWeightWatcher

05-26-2005, 06:55 PM

Hope things went well for you today. How scary for you and for
us as a society that we have to worry about such things.

Beth

05-26-2005, 07:15 PM

I was thinking of you today as I was with 360 6th graders at a YMCA pool doing relay races, field races, eating snow cones and pizza. It's a shame that your students could not enjoy that freedom and celebration and that many of our students probably don't realize how good they have it.

AzAnne

05-26-2005, 07:16 PM

If I remember correctly your in the "Valley of the Sun" I didn't hear any news reports today regarding schools so I'm hoping everything is ok !

If you don't mind saying, what school district are you in? have a couple of friends who teach around the valley, some disricts better than others.

Enjoy your summer away from the stress.

Cookin4Love

05-26-2005, 07:20 PM

We made it! As far as I know, no weapons were found. At dismissal, the kids all had to exit through one gate, and we had a couple of police officers there, along with several male teachers and our school custodian. They were shooing kids away like crazy and breaking up the groups of kids that tend to form.

Thank you all for your prayers; I believe they helped keep us safe.