If you have kids in school....

My kids are in a small town school on the outskirts of Phoenix here in Arizona.  My kids school has been normal this week. No extra police, ect.  However, I did notice the principle has been at the location for parent pick this week.  It is just kind of weird walking by the kindergarten and 1st grade classes, it is just unfathomable about what happened.  On Wednesday I was in my daughters 2nd grade class helping out with the kids making candy houses, and it went through my head what that must have been like.  it was my understanding that some of the adults that lost their lives there just there volunteering, just sickening. 

My daughter's daycare went into Lockdown two days ago- along with the local middle school and a few other schools when someone heard what they thought was shots.  They think it was a car back firing.  The teachers were locking all the doors, there was a cop in the parking lot and the director had 6 veterans on call to create a perimeter.  I have never been so impressed with a response (there was also a triple murder suicide that night in town so everyone was already on edge) or so sad about where we are going as a society.  It is the closest I have ever come to quitting my job. 

My daughter loves her school and teachers and friends though.  I like my job too. 

I have to say seeing to cop terrified me more than making me feel safe in the moment.  Don't get me wrong- I'm glad he was there and thankful in retrospect- but his presence scared me.

I had not heard any threats for tomorrow- but our schools are already out for winter break.  Now you're making me nervous that I should keep my daughter out of daycare.

I'm sorry, not my intention, I hope you don't.

Yeah, the spelling police drive us all nuts.

We are in a small, rural farm community in IL. Business as usual here, no threats. Kids start their winter break today, for teachers it is a 1/2 day to complete/turn in report cards.

Best wishes out there.

My boys go to school within 30 minutes of Sandy Hook - both schools let out for winter break before the shooting, so nothing directly but hearing from both headmasters (lots of people known to both communities) and review of security procedures.

I am hearing from many patients about discussions in schools here in NYC with kids WAY too young to be hearing about it - which I find disturbing.

Will be part of a panel discussion on Fox News later today (taping at noon for airing ???)

I'd love to watch this but my kids will home with me all day today. Will the discussion be appropriate to watch with young children in the room (4 & 6)? Keep in mind that my son has recently become Mr. Ears. When my husband and I try to have an adult conversation and we think he is otherwise occupied all of the sudden Mr. Ears is standing right there listening to every word.

I have three in different schools: the High school is in lockdown today, there were "whispers of rumors of threats", the administration actually considered no school today but cooler heads prevailed. Middle school, no changes but the principal did a good job communicating with kids and parents. The elementary school my youngest goes to now keeps all doors into the building locked (I'm assuming they're only locked from the outside). You can walk into an entry vestibule in the front and knock on a window to have a secretary open the door.

Rumors are flying around here. Neighboring school district arrested a kid for making threats.

My 7th grader was done with finals and I picked her up early yesterday. A 12 yr old boy was manning the front desk of the school! He did card me and run my ID. The lady who runs the desk actually returned ( potty break? ) and carded me again before releasing my daughter.

Our high school kids are rumored to all be bringing guns to defend themselves from an impending doom of some sort. There is a rumor that the school will be on lock down today. We'll see if that actually occurs since it's last day of finals before Christmas break and kids will all be leaving at different times.

I remember my high school we had kids driving pick ups with gun racks on campus. We had a huge Ag program and I recall all the FFA guys carried the biggest folding Buck knife they could get their hands on. The only time I saw blood was one fight where a freshman girl gave a soph girl a bloody nose for looking at her boyfriend. To date, that ranks as one of the best punches I have ever seen!

This is in Mooresville, NC

Other than discussions with the children, abosolutely NO changes - which to us, is a good thing.  The scholl district sent out emails to all the parents reminding them of the security policies and measures in place and how they ocassionally do lock-down drills.

But no additional police or security.  No changes in rules.

We've had a few changes in our town (Boston suburb).  We've had a police detail at am drop off and pm pick-up at all schools.  They've also changed the protocol around locked doors and added doorbells to use if entering the school for before and after school programs.  I haven't heard of any threats or rumors and my son (1st grade) hasn't mentioned any other changes but our town made changes to safety measures a few years ago as well because of a killing during school hrs at our HS. Everyone is still raw from that experience.  

There was a discussion panel held by our police chief, superintentant, and our head child psychologist held on Tues evening but I wasn't able to attend.  They'll be sharing the notes and slides later today so I'll be interested to see what else was addressed.