Kennedy is on lockdown- bomb threat 8/29

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in HS in the 80s there were tons of bomb threats because they would evacuate the building and we could all just hangout outside for a few hours while they sent in the dogs to sniff. No one ever knew about them because no internet and the local news didn’t cover it. Back then there were pay phones and no cameras so it was really easy to just call these in and never get caught. There was a period where we’d have a couple a month whenever the weather was nice. I’d imagine it’s somewhat easier to track the source now.

I wonder if we went to the same high school!

[Anonymous]

Is this the subject of the email from Ellen Heiss?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the subject of the email from Ellen Heiss?

Oh no that’s about parts of a ghost gun at Blair. Good times!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was in HS in the 80s there were tons of bomb threats because they would evacuate the building and we could all just hangout outside for a few hours while they sent in the dogs to sniff. No one ever knew about them because no internet and the local news didn’t cover it. Back then there were pay phones and no cameras so it was really easy to just call these in and never get caught. There was a period where we’d have a couple a month whenever the weather was nice. I’d imagine it’s somewhat easier to track the source now.

I wonder if we went to the same high school!

+1

[Anonymous]

What’s would be the legal consequence of such threat?

[Anonymous]

Why did she blame the media when the police was the one that stated the school was in lockdown?

Anonymous wrote:Official letter from Kennedy's principal sent out to parents and students on the threat:

Dear John F. Kennedy High School Students, Staff, and Families,

I am writing to share that at approximately 9:08 a.m. today, we were notified that a call was made to the offices of the MCPS Virtual Academy (MVA) that involved a potential threat against Kennedy High School. A
community member made a threat in which he mentioned a bomb and a gun. It was not clear that Kennedy would be the intended target of this threat, but because of the community member’s affiliation with the school,
we acted quickly and out of an abundance of caution.

Per our established protocols, at 9:11 a.m., I contacted the Montgomery County Police Department, the MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management and the MCPS Office of School Support and
Well-being (OSSWB). Police were dispatched to the school and began the investigation. The school went into a Shelter-In-Place at 9:30 a.m. We secured all doors and posted security and other personnel on every exit. Administrators also maintained a presence in the hallways. During a Shelter-In-Place, instruction continues, and we monitor students who need to go to and from the restroom.

At 10:02 a.m., we remained in a Shelter-In-Place as students transitioned to their next class. We maintained our presence in the hallways to ensure a safe transition to the next period. We learned that media outlets and some social media channels incorrectly reported what was happening in the school, including that we were on a lockdown from a bomb threat. This was not accurate and the school was never in a lockdown situation. Throughout the Shelter-In-Place, we provided updates via email to the community. The Shelter-in-Place was lifted at 11:58 a.m.MCPS treats all threats with a high level of seriousness. Severe consequences will be assigned to anyone who is discovered making such threats

Recognizing that these types of incidents can cause students to feel anxious, our counselors will check in with students throughout the day. If you feel that your student needs an adult to speak with, please reach directly to
your child’s counselor.

I would like to remind everyone that you can already reach out anonymously to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns through the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Safe Schools
Tipline (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233). For further information pon the approach to emergency preparedness in MCPS, please visit the Department of Systemwide Safety ane Emergency Management's
website.

Thank you,
Ms. Vickie Adamson
Principal
John F. Kennedy High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did she blame the media when the police was the one that stated the school was in lockdown?

Anonymous wrote:Official letter from Kennedy's principal sent out to parents and students on the threat:

Dear John F. Kennedy High School Students, Staff, and Families,

I am writing to share that at approximately 9:08 a.m. today, we were notified that a call was made to the offices of the MCPS Virtual Academy (MVA) that involved a potential threat against Kennedy High School. A
community member made a threat in which he mentioned a bomb and a gun. It was not clear that Kennedy would be the intended target of this threat, but because of the community member’s affiliation with the school,
we acted quickly and out of an abundance of caution.

Per our established protocols, at 9:11 a.m., I contacted the Montgomery County Police Department, the MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management and the MCPS Office of School Support and
Well-being (OSSWB). Police were dispatched to the school and began the investigation. The school went into a Shelter-In-Place at 9:30 a.m. We secured all doors and posted security and other personnel on every exit. Administrators also maintained a presence in the hallways. During a Shelter-In-Place, instruction continues, and we monitor students who need to go to and from the restroom.

At 10:02 a.m., we remained in a Shelter-In-Place as students transitioned to their next class. We maintained our presence in the hallways to ensure a safe transition to the next period. We learned that media outlets and some social media channels incorrectly reported what was happening in the school, including that we were on a lockdown from a bomb threat. This was not accurate and the school was never in a lockdown situation. Throughout the Shelter-In-Place, we provided updates via email to the community. The Shelter-in-Place was lifted at 11:58 a.m.MCPS treats all threats with a high level of seriousness. Severe consequences will be assigned to anyone who is discovered making such threats

Recognizing that these types of incidents can cause students to feel anxious, our counselors will check in with students throughout the day. If you feel that your student needs an adult to speak with, please reach directly to
your child’s counselor.

I would like to remind everyone that you can already reach out anonymously to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns through the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Safe Schools
Tipline (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233). For further information pon the approach to emergency preparedness in MCPS, please visit the Department of Systemwide Safety ane Emergency Management's
website.

Thank you,
Ms. Vickie Adamson
Principal
John F. Kennedy High School

She's not "blaming" the media. She's reporting (correctly) that they were wrong when they broadcast the school was in lock-down. She's giving you the facts.

[Anonymous]

As front office staff we don’t speak with the media we let police give them that information, so either the school reported incorrect information to the police or the police reported incorrect information that the media picked up. She IS blaming when she should only be clarifying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did she blame the media when the police was the one that stated the school was in lockdown?

Anonymous wrote:Official letter from Kennedy's principal sent out to parents and students on the threat:

Dear John F. Kennedy High School Students, Staff, and Families,

I am writing to share that at approximately 9:08 a.m. today, we were notified that a call was made to the offices of the MCPS Virtual Academy (MVA) that involved a potential threat against Kennedy High School. A
community member made a threat in which he mentioned a bomb and a gun. It was not clear that Kennedy would be the intended target of this threat, but because of the community member’s affiliation with the school,
we acted quickly and out of an abundance of caution.

Per our established protocols, at 9:11 a.m., I contacted the Montgomery County Police Department, the MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management and the MCPS Office of School Support and
Well-being (OSSWB). Police were dispatched to the school and began the investigation. The school went into a Shelter-In-Place at 9:30 a.m. We secured all doors and posted security and other personnel on every exit. Administrators also maintained a presence in the hallways. During a Shelter-In-Place, instruction continues, and we monitor students who need to go to and from the restroom.

At 10:02 a.m., we remained in a Shelter-In-Place as students transitioned to their next class. We maintained our presence in the hallways to ensure a safe transition to the next period. We learned that media outlets and some social media channels incorrectly reported what was happening in the school, including that we were on a lockdown from a bomb threat. This was not accurate and the school was never in a lockdown situation. Throughout the Shelter-In-Place, we provided updates via email to the community. The Shelter-in-Place was lifted at 11:58 a.m.MCPS treats all threats with a high level of seriousness. Severe consequences will be assigned to anyone who is discovered making such threats

Recognizing that these types of incidents can cause students to feel anxious, our counselors will check in with students throughout the day. If you feel that your student needs an adult to speak with, please reach directly to
your child’s counselor.

I would like to remind everyone that you can already reach out anonymously to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns through the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Safe Schools
Tipline (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233). For further information pon the approach to emergency preparedness in MCPS, please visit the Department of Systemwide Safety ane Emergency Management's
website.

Thank you,
Ms. Vickie Adamson
Principal
John F. Kennedy High School

She's not "blaming" the media. She's reporting (correctly) that they were wrong when they broadcast the school was in lock-down. She's giving you the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did she blame the media when the police was the one that stated the school was in lockdown?

Anonymous wrote:Official letter from Kennedy's principal sent out to parents and students on the threat:

Dear John F. Kennedy High School Students, Staff, and Families,

I am writing to share that at approximately 9:08 a.m. today, we were notified that a call was made to the offices of the MCPS Virtual Academy (MVA) that involved a potential threat against Kennedy High School. A
community member made a threat in which he mentioned a bomb and a gun. It was not clear that Kennedy would be the intended target of this threat, but because of the community member’s affiliation with the school,
we acted quickly and out of an abundance of caution.

Per our established protocols, at 9:11 a.m., I contacted the Montgomery County Police Department, the MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management and the MCPS Office of School Support and
Well-being (OSSWB). Police were dispatched to the school and began the investigation. The school went into a Shelter-In-Place at 9:30 a.m. We secured all doors and posted security and other personnel on every exit. Administrators also maintained a presence in the hallways. During a Shelter-In-Place, instruction continues, and we monitor students who need to go to and from the restroom.

At 10:02 a.m., we remained in a Shelter-In-Place as students transitioned to their next class. We maintained our presence in the hallways to ensure a safe transition to the next period. We learned that media outlets and some social media channels incorrectly reported what was happening in the school, including that we were on a lockdown from a bomb threat. This was not accurate and the school was never in a lockdown situation. Throughout the Shelter-In-Place, we provided updates via email to the community. The Shelter-in-Place was lifted at 11:58 a.m.MCPS treats all threats with a high level of seriousness. Severe consequences will be assigned to anyone who is discovered making such threats

Recognizing that these types of incidents can cause students to feel anxious, our counselors will check in with students throughout the day. If you feel that your student needs an adult to speak with, please reach directly to
your child’s counselor.

I would like to remind everyone that you can already reach out anonymously to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns through the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Safe Schools
Tipline (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233). For further information pon the approach to emergency preparedness in MCPS, please visit the Department of Systemwide Safety ane Emergency Management's
website.

Thank you,
Ms. Vickie Adamson
Principal
John F. Kennedy High School

She's not "blaming" the media. She's reporting (correctly) that they were wrong when they broadcast the school was in lock-down. She's giving you the facts.

I did feel like she was blaming the media for the mix-up when it was in fact MCPD who stated the school was in a lockdown. The media didn't make something up out of thin air.