Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Person unknown knocking on school windows trying to gain entry
20’s

Letter could have easily said exactly what went on. It is public info from police call. Anyone can listen and find out the above information. But MCPS needs to cover up?

Yup!

no i am genuinely trying to convey to OP that "you aint seen nothing yet" ....this is a part of growing up. your kids are going to see fights, people smoking etc....what is she going to do when she hears about that? have a panic attack and project that panic to her kids so they never tell her anything again? toughen up buttercup

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

NP. I don't work for MCPS, but PP is right. "These kinds of things" aren't new. What's new is how much schools communicate with parents about them, and that change is a net negative. My schools evacuated or had shelter in places pretty often growing up, my parents heard about it when I told them. It was a better system that let the people who can act (police and staff) act without worrying people who can't do anything (parents).

In a world where smartphones exist, that world from the past that you dream of is no longer possible or realistic. Information cannot be contained and it travels at lightning speed thanks to text messaging and social media, whether you like it or not. So MCPS has to learn how to communicate in its present reality, not the past.

That attempt to cling to the past is why its comms come out like what was posted above, which just adds more confusion to the situation and not clarity.

It's very possible for you as the parent to relax, though. That communication had every piece of information you needed to figure out what you needed to do (nothing). What more do you think you need?

To me, the vagueness of the language is what causes the issue: "provide assistance to a community member not affiliated with Cabin John Middle School."

I don't know what a community member not affiliated with the school means. And if said community member is an adult and not a child, I don't see or understand the need for the veiled secrecy.

What more information do you actually want? Their name? A description of what they look like?

As a parent, I want the information I need to make a decision or take action, and that message already goes way beyond that, but I'm also confused by what you're hoping for.

If you're happy with what was posted, ok. Other people aren't. Why is that a problem for you?

Why is it a problem for you if I voice my opinion?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

PP is me and I am just now coming back to the thread....I am a parent as signed I have nothing to do with MCPS.

If you don't work for MCPS, why are you doing the work of defending them for free? Do you think MCPS needs you to come to their defense when people criticize their methods on an anonymous online forum?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

NP. I don't work for MCPS, but PP is right. "These kinds of things" aren't new. What's new is how much schools communicate with parents about them, and that change is a net negative. My schools evacuated or had shelter in places pretty often growing up, my parents heard about it when I told them. It was a better system that let the people who can act (police and staff) act without worrying people who can't do anything (parents).

In a world where smartphones exist, that world from the past that you dream of is no longer possible or realistic. Information cannot be contained and it travels at lightning speed thanks to text messaging and social media, whether you like it or not. So MCPS has to learn how to communicate in its present reality, not the past.

That attempt to cling to the past is why its comms come out like what was posted above, which just adds more confusion to the situation and not clarity.

It's very possible for you as the parent to relax, though. That communication had every piece of information you needed to figure out what you needed to do (nothing). What more do you think you need?

To me, the vagueness of the language is what causes the issue: "provide assistance to a community member not affiliated with Cabin John Middle School."

I don't know what a community member not affiliated with the school means. And if said community member is an adult and not a child, I don't see or understand the need for the veiled secrecy.

What more information do you actually want? Their name? A description of what they look like?

As a parent, I want the information I need to make a decision or take action, and that message already goes way beyond that, but I'm also confused by what you're hoping for.

If you're happy with what was posted, ok. Other people aren't. Why is that a problem for you?

Shelter in place ended now. "Throughout the day, we received regular updates from our Community Engagement Officer (CEO) about the status of the incident and their investigation. At about 2:00 PM this afternoon, we received confirmation from our CEO that the community member is now with their family, is fully accounted for, and is not near our school campus."

Anonymous wrote:Person unknown knocking on school windows trying to gain entry
20’s

Letter could have easily said exactly what went on. It is public info from police call. Anyone can listen and find out the above information. But MCPS needs to cover up?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

NP. I don't work for MCPS, but PP is right. "These kinds of things" aren't new. What's new is how much schools communicate with parents about them, and that change is a net negative. My schools evacuated or had shelter in places pretty often growing up, my parents heard about it when I told them. It was a better system that let the people who can act (police and staff) act without worrying people who can't do anything (parents).

In a world where smartphones exist, that world from the past that you dream of is no longer possible or realistic. Information cannot be contained and it travels at lightning speed thanks to text messaging and social media, whether you like it or not. So MCPS has to learn how to communicate in its present reality, not the past.

That attempt to cling to the past is why its comms come out like what was posted above, which just adds more confusion to the situation and not clarity.

It's very possible for you as the parent to relax, though. That communication had every piece of information you needed to figure out what you needed to do (nothing). What more do you think you need?

To me, the vagueness of the language is what causes the issue: "provide assistance to a community member not affiliated with Cabin John Middle School."

I don't know what a community member not affiliated with the school means. And if said community member is an adult and not a child, I don't see or understand the need for the veiled secrecy.

What more information do you actually want? Their name? A description of what they look like?

As a parent, I want the information I need to make a decision or take action, and that message already goes way beyond that, but I'm also confused by what you're hoping for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

PP is me and I am just now coming back to the thread....I am a parent as signed I have nothing to do with MCPS.

If MCPS is serious about better and more effective community engagement, they have to stop letting their lawyers write or dictate their comms. The language reeks of General Counsel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

NP. I don't work for MCPS, but PP is right. "These kinds of things" aren't new. What's new is how much schools communicate with parents about them, and that change is a net negative. My schools evacuated or had shelter in places pretty often growing up, my parents heard about it when I told them. It was a better system that let the people who can act (police and staff) act without worrying people who can't do anything (parents).

In a world where smartphones exist, that world from the past that you dream of is no longer possible or realistic. Information cannot be contained and it travels at lightning speed thanks to text messaging and social media, whether you like it or not. So MCPS has to learn how to communicate in its present reality, not the past.

That attempt to cling to the past is why its comms come out like what was posted above, which just adds more confusion to the situation and not clarity.

It's very possible for you as the parent to relax, though. That communication had every piece of information you needed to figure out what you needed to do (nothing). What more do you think you need?

To me, the vagueness of the language is what causes the issue: "provide assistance to a community member not affiliated with Cabin John Middle School."

I don't know what a community member not affiliated with the school means. And if said community member is an adult and not a child, I don't see or understand the need for the veiled secrecy.

If it’s a legitimate mental-health situation, they might be more circumspect. Since they said there’s a family member involved, I’d guess that’s likely case here.

But even if it were a criminal matter, there’s still a limit to the amount of information they can put out while it’s still being investigated.

When I dropped my child off at CJMS today around 8:10, when I left the parking lot, to my right, there were a couple police, and maybe another adult(?), talking to a young adult/teen. It seemed peaceful enough but also as if they were trying to persuade the young person to do something.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

NP. I don't work for MCPS, but PP is right. "These kinds of things" aren't new. What's new is how much schools communicate with parents about them, and that change is a net negative. My schools evacuated or had shelter in places pretty often growing up, my parents heard about it when I told them. It was a better system that let the people who can act (police and staff) act without worrying people who can't do anything (parents).

In a world where smartphones exist, that world from the past that you dream of is no longer possible or realistic. Information cannot be contained and it travels at lightning speed thanks to text messaging and social media, whether you like it or not. So MCPS has to learn how to communicate in its present reality, not the past.

That attempt to cling to the past is why its comms come out like what was posted above, which just adds more confusion to the situation and not clarity.

It's very possible for you as the parent to relax, though. That communication had every piece of information you needed to figure out what you needed to do (nothing). What more do you think you need?

To me, the vagueness of the language is what causes the issue: "provide assistance to a community member not affiliated with Cabin John Middle School."

I don't know what a community member not affiliated with the school means. And if said community member is an adult and not a child, I don't see or understand the need for the veiled secrecy.

8am + "family" sounds like someone maybe was in car with a parent dropping off a student, and had some sort of meltdown.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that parents worry but I truly worry for the parents who worry enough to bring it here with this original post OP. Wait till high school....you genuinely need to be able to go on about your day or you will be in constant shock by what you hear on a day to day basis.

signed cabin john and wootton parent

Just because many who work for MCPS have accepted these kinds of things happening in high schools as normal doesn't mean it's right or something we as parents or students SHOULD accept as normal.

NP. I don't work for MCPS, but PP is right. "These kinds of things" aren't new. What's new is how much schools communicate with parents about them, and that change is a net negative. My schools evacuated or had shelter in places pretty often growing up, my parents heard about it when I told them. It was a better system that let the people who can act (police and staff) act without worrying people who can't do anything (parents).

In a world where smartphones exist, that world from the past that you dream of is no longer possible or realistic. Information cannot be contained and it travels at lightning speed thanks to text messaging and social media, whether you like it or not. So MCPS has to learn how to communicate in its present reality, not the past.

That attempt to cling to the past is why its comms come out like what was posted above, which just adds more confusion to the situation and not clarity.

It's very possible for you as the parent to relax, though. That communication had every piece of information you needed to figure out what you needed to do (nothing). What more do you think you need?

While I agree that some level of communication may be necessary (because teachers and kids have smart phones, for instance), I think that this kind of communication will also lead to at least a bit of panic in a large percent of parents, because it is disruptive and triggers a flight or fight response. It's not about whether it should, it clearly does (obviously not for everyone, maybe not even for a majority, but for many people.) Especially when it's stated as still unresolved and it doesn't have all the information. Not sure what the right way to inform parents is though.