Despite October already being a spooky season, the students of Lady of Assumption School and Damien High School were additionally frightened by the emailed bomb threats sent to them on October 16th, 2023. As reported by an ABC 7 news article, this wave of emails caused classes to be canceled for the day.
Government officials began investigations to find who the offenders were. Consequently, other surrounding schools were also evacuated and closed for the day. The Webb Canyon Chronicle reached out to these schools; however, they did not answer to an email requesting more information. Local authorities have traced these emails from a sender overseas but have deemed these threats not discernible and claimed that they should be disregarded.
In response to the rapid increase in school-related incidents, schools have adapted their security measures and have held more lockdown drills. This increase has been most prevalent in K-12 schools, with a dramatic increase of security cameras, the installation of schoolwide notification security systems, and additional requirements for visitors. Some local schools’ danger plans for local schools entail protocols for such events:
- Bomb threats
- Earthquakes
- Intruders/solicitors
- Weapons/assault/hostages
- Explosions
Webb regularly practices lockdowns and trains faculty to help prevent any confusion in case of any of these mishaps.
“[Webb] has this whole organizational system … it’s a pretty extensive emergency plan,” said Dr. Theresa Smith, Head of Schools.
Page 34 of Webb’s student handbook expands more on the precautions students must take amid a minor or major event. It also provides more in-depth procedures for other events such as fires, active shooters, earthquakes, and other wildlife events. Students are always encouraged to talk more about security concerns with other faculty members or security personnel. Webb has also taken other measures to ensure campus security.
“We have some security cameras that are guarding our perimeter, and some security cameras that have been put in for wildlife monitoring,” Dr. Smith said.
On July 27, 2022, Pew Research Center released an article analyzing federal government data to gauge the security measures of public K-12 schools within the United States, in addition to the adoption of many other protocols. This data reflects upon other survey data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and their survey about school crime and safety. In attempts to help bolster school security, public K-12 schools reported having a threat assessment team onsite throughout the 2019-20 school year. Stated in a article written by Donna Michaelis, Director of Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety and Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, “When we analyzed the data further, less than 1% of the 14,869 reported threats actually resulted in a related act being carried out… We believe that’s a pretty good success rate for our teams.”
With school tragedies on the rise, Webb has been active in constantly updating and monitoring its campus to help protect students and faculty alike from such bomb threats. As a place where young adults and scholars are meant to feel safe and secure, schools around the country must be constantly active in ensuring the safety of everyone within their campuses.
![Student researcher Elaine Tang (‘24) created a comic for the Fossil Fest to explain the two ways fossils are formed in a tarpit. “I chose to explain my research by comic because there are a lot of kids coming to the [Fossil] Fest,” Elaine said. “They are all very interested and even painted on my comic with their favorite colors.” Fossil Fest is one of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology Discovery Day events during which scientists and museum visitors are invited to celebrate paleontology.](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9eae070d6f5f12b684fd6d4ff457a01.jpg)
![Blue, white, and gold colored balloons surround the doorway to the new Bonnie Johnson Hall. Dr. Theresa Smith and Blake Johnson pose with large scissors, prepared to cut the ribbon as many faculty, alumni, and others watch and applaud. “I look at [the science lab] as a space where students are pursuing their own scientific questions, where they can collaborate with their other peers, and where discovery is happening,” said Lisa Nacionales, Science Department Chair.](https://webbcanyonchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Smith_and_Johnson.HEIC.jpg)
