On Wednesday at Highland Middle School it was reported that a student posted an image of a weapon on social media outside of school hours. While the picture had no reference to school, it caused concern through the student body. However, all reports of this nature are taken very seriously. Consequently, the administration worked with the local authorities to investigate the situation. After an investigation it was deemed by administration and local authorities that the students at staff at HMS were safe at all times.
We want to take this opportunity to remind students that anytime there is anything posted online or they hear of anything in school that causes them concern, they are to immediately report this to an adult. We thank the students who reported this incident. We spoke with the students in lunch and in their classes to ensure they understood the situation and that it was resolved. Unfortunately, even after our discussion with students, another student posted online an inaccuracy about the situation and that the school and students were in danger, which was not true. There is a team in Washington D.C. whose responsibility it is to monitor social media. When this tactical unit became aware of the second students’ post, they contacted the school to ensure all were safe. After we became aware of this, we spoke with students again, by grade level, to ensure they again understood that the situation was handled and all were safe. We also reminded the students about posting online and about the issues with spreading inaccuracies to others.
Safety is a top priority at Blackhawk. We again want to remind students about the pitfalls of posting information/pictures online and of ensuring they are not spreading false statements. Most importantly, we want students to feel safe and comfortable sharing with adults any concerns they have. We hope that our notices to parents on the HMS Website, the Global Connect Call, and the multiple meetings with students helped to alleviate any concerns. If you would like to discuss this situation, please contact the HMS Office.