egg-citing goings-on at Swanson?

[Anonymous]

...and now a bomb threat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...and now a bomb threat.

Thank goodness that arl news now reported what the actual threat was, bc APS didn’t! Gave a lot of parents anxiety today.

[Anonymous]

oh gawd

[Anonymous]

They just announced an all-clear..followed by an early release. So why are they doing an early dismissal if it's an all-clear? Because the kids are upset? Seems like keeping them there and having a more normal afternoon would be better than having them go home, especially since many parents won't be around at this point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...and now a bomb threat.

Thank goodness that arl news now reported what the actual threat was, bc APS didn’t! Gave a lot of parents anxiety today.

Really? Swanson parent here, there have been multiple emails and texts and all stated the nature of the threat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...and now a bomb threat.

Thank goodness that arl news now reported what the actual threat was, bc APS didn’t! Gave a lot of parents anxiety today.

Really? Swanson parent here, there have been multiple emails and texts and all stated the nature of the threat.

First text just said lockdown and active situation. I found out it was a bomb threat from ArlNow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They just announced an all-clear..followed by an early release. So why are they doing an early dismissal if it's an all-clear? Because the kids are upset? Seems like keeping them there and having a more normal afternoon would be better than having them go home, especially since many parents won't be around at this point?

I agree that keeping them in school would be a better plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They just announced an all-clear..followed by an early release. So why are they doing an early dismissal if it's an all-clear? Because the kids are upset? Seems like keeping them there and having a more normal afternoon would be better than having them go home, especially since many parents won't be around at this point?

I agree that keeping them in school would be a better plan.

Agreed, I have no idea why they are being sent home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...and now a bomb threat.

Thank goodness that arl news now reported what the actual threat was, bc APS didn’t! Gave a lot of parents anxiety today.

Really? Swanson parent here, there have been multiple emails and texts and all stated the nature of the threat.

The initial email at 9:59am was not at all clear and made it sound as if there was an active shooter situation. No email from the school clarifying it's a bomb threat until 10:23am. ArlNow had better info that it was a bomb threat, but is that really what we're doing here? Below was NOT a good email to receive.

Dear Families,

Swanson Middle School is currently in Lockdown*. The safety and security of students and staff is our top priority. We are actively responding to the situation and collaborating with emergency responders.

At this time, we ask that parents stay where they are and remain available to receive updates and instructions as needed. Please do not come to the school.

Details will be communicated as soon as they are known.

What is a Lockdown?*
A lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard nearby in the vicinity of the school or inside the school building. The Lockdown demands locking interior doors, moving students and staff out of the line of sight of corridor windows, turning off lights to make the room seem unoccupied, and having occupants maintain silence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They just announced an all-clear..followed by an early release. So why are they doing an early dismissal if it's an all-clear? Because the kids are upset? Seems like keeping them there and having a more normal afternoon would be better than having them go home, especially since many parents won't be around at this point?

I agree that keeping them in school would be a better plan.

Agreed, I have no idea why they are being sent home.

1. A bunch of parents went to the school anyway after the initial vague email. I believe those parents were very demanding to release the kids.

2. Some number of the kids are probably genuinely upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...and now a bomb threat.

Thank goodness that arl news now reported what the actual threat was, bc APS didn’t! Gave a lot of parents anxiety today.

Really? Swanson parent here, there have been multiple emails and texts and all stated the nature of the threat.

The initial email at 9:59am was not at all clear and made it sound as if there was an active shooter situation. No email from the school clarifying it's a bomb threat until 10:23am. ArlNow had better info that it was a bomb threat, but is that really what we're doing here? Below was NOT a good email to receive.

Dear Families,

Swanson Middle School is currently in Lockdown*. The safety and security of students and staff is our top priority. We are actively responding to the situation and collaborating with emergency responders.

At this time, we ask that parents stay where they are and remain available to receive updates and instructions as needed. Please do not come to the school.

Details will be communicated as soon as they are known.

What is a Lockdown?*
A lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard nearby in the vicinity of the school or inside the school building. The Lockdown demands locking interior doors, moving students and staff out of the line of sight of corridor windows, turning off lights to make the room seem unoccupied, and having occupants maintain silence.

ArlNow published at 10am it was a bomb threat. It is ridiculous ArlNow has that info at that point and parents are getting an email that doesn't have that information in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good lord, yes this behavior should be punished, but not let’s not act like it’s not age appropriate shenanigans and that it’s only limited to children from lower social economical backgrounds. I would bet the majority of the people on this website toilet papered peoples houses, egged homes, etc. as a child in the 80s/90s. Some probably even put a banana in a tailpipe. Stop demonizing.

Guess I and my entire cohort were the minority.
No, I don't think the majority of kids engage in those behaviors.

You're right, not the majority but the majority of students aren't doing it now either. There has always been a group of kids who will engage in shenanigans like this. This sounded especially egregious to me though, if I'm being honest. During daylight, at customers. That is different then egging a house at night (which definitely happened when I was in school, not by me but by others). Either way it doesn't mean it shouldn't be punished. Of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They just announced an all-clear..followed by an early release. So why are they doing an early dismissal if it's an all-clear? Because the kids are upset? Seems like keeping them there and having a more normal afternoon would be better than having them go home, especially since many parents won't be around at this point?

It appears there may be a string of threats either nationwide or follow on calls to Swanson according to something posted on ACPD's X feed. They want the school cleared out for the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They just announced an all-clear..followed by an early release. So why are they doing an early dismissal if it's an all-clear? Because the kids are upset? Seems like keeping them there and having a more normal afternoon would be better than having them go home, especially since many parents won't be around at this point?

It appears there may be a string of threats either nationwide or follow on calls to Swanson according to something posted on ACPD's X feed. They want the school cleared out for the day.

Where did you see this? Can you post it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take one wild guess why there haven't been consequences. One guess.

Please answer this q as I honestly don’t know.

Looks like one black and two Hispanic kids. The Arlington NAACP, who ofte talk about APS's school-to-prison pipeline, would be all over this if any disciplinary actions were taken

Loft is afraid to take any targeted disciplinary action for exactly this reason. There were kids openly selling pot last year in the 8th grade, and all the teachers and admins looked the other way. It is also why the prior principal let the Taser kid situation escalate, even though he was bragging about bringing a weapon to school before he finally did it. Loft's new SEL program is pointless-- these lessons aren't changing any bad behaviors and they are just wasting the time of the kids who are trying to be good students and follow the rules.

Sounds like putting the SROs back in school would be a good idea. Swanson used to have a fantastic one.

First of all, in this particular situation, the school has no disciplinary authority. Actions took place outside of school, off campus. it is not up to the school to implement any discipline or consequences.

Second of all, the SEL lessons are not "Loft's." They are APS-wide and mandated. All the schools are giving these "lessons." And yes, they are ineffective - particularly at the secondary level.

I agree that NAACP and its supporters are a problem that significantly impedes discipline in general.

The SRO used to go to Westover after school back when they had one. He may have had no authority, but his presence was felt.

Did APS get rid of SROs? I can't keep track who did (ACPS) and who didn't (FCPS) anymore.

APS does not have them for the last 2 years. I don’t know about surrounding counties.