Maplewood Middle School Jerrill Adams addressed the incident of a student bringing a handgun to school last Wednesday in an email sent to parents and guardians on Sunday night, June 7.
Importantly, Adams noted that, on Monday morning, June 8, “MMS teachers and administrators will be visible in the hallways during classroom transitions, morning arrival entry points, and afternoon dismissal exit points outside of the building, to provide students with support for safe passage to class and on their way home from school.”
In the email, Adams once again commended staff an students on how they conducted themselves throughout the incident and code red lockdown on June 3. Adams also reminded parents of a special Town Hall meeting about the incident to be held at MMS on Monday evening, June 8.
Adams noted that there would be a followup on the incident in his morning announcement on Monday, and that there would be two drills this week at the school to fulfill state mandates.
Read Adams’ full email message below:
Dear MMS Families,
I hope you all had a restful weekend. The recent events at Columbia High School and Maplewood Middle School have raised concerns more than ever before about the safety of our children in our schools. I am extremely proud of the way our staff and students conducted themselves during the “code red” last week and very thankful for the brave students who shared the important details we needed to take swift action to prevent harm to anyone in our building. I also want to assure you that we are ready for a great week of school at MMS! Our top priority is to maintain a positive, safe, and productive learning environment. Here are some of the steps we are taking as a school community to address student safety:
1) There will be a follow-up news broadcast Monday morning on “News on Waffles”, where I will address students and share my appreciation for their brave conduct this far. Once again, I will reinforce the importance of the message “If you see or hear something, say something” so that a responsible adult can ensure student safety.
2) MMS teachers and administrators will be visible in the hallways during classroom transitions, morning arrival entry points, and afternoon dismissal exit points outside of the building, to provide students with support for safe passage to class and on their way home from school.
3) MMS teachers will maintain a clear and consistent focus on teaching and learning through the end of the school year.
4) The SOMSD is hosting a Town Hall on School Safety Monday, June 8th in the Maplewood Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 pm. I will be there to participate in the conversation along with district administrators, SOMSD board members, and the CHS principal.
5) On Wednesday, June 10th, the MMS Home School Association (HSA) will host a general meeting in the MMS auditorium at 7pm. Please plan to attend as this general body meeting is open to all MMS families. Teachers and staff are also invited to attend!
6) Lastly, there will be two emergency drills this week. One will be a fire drill and the other will be an evacuation. These drills are necessary due to state mandates and will ensure we are prepared to handle these situations.
Finally, we encourage you to engage your children in dialogue about how they can contribute to a safe and positive school environment. I am confident that taking these steps together we can continue to provide our children with a safe and inspiring middle school experience. Thank you for your support!
Together We Can,
Mr. Adams
Principal
