The Glass House Retreat
Follow
  • TGHR Blog

Lock Down Reflections

10/29/2014

16 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday, two of our schools went into lock down mode at 1:45 in the afternoon. This followed on the heels of an email stating there had been both vandalism and thefts at each school within the past 48 hours.

It is Red Ribbon week, so the police were speaking about being drug free during gym classes, IN the high school, when the call came in.

Since the high school dismisses at 2:07 it was pretty evident this was not a drill. As a precaution, the elementary school next door was locked down as well.

Our little community is far from alone in this happening. A friend in Arizona had the same thing going on yesterday at her kids elementary school.

Bella grabbed her phone as soon as she knew what was happening. She was able to text me. She shared her phone with friends so they too could reassure their parents.

We received phone calls, emails, and the Superintendent tweeted. Kids who had phones absolutely stayed in touch with their parents.

And yet, people still were pissed about how much info was shared. It was not enough. They didn't know their middle school kids would be five minutes early coming home. Really? You're going to go off on FB over five minutes? I really am too old for this kind of bitching. They wanted the down and dirty details.

This is not TV people.

This was real life and it was happening. Teachers who were protecting your kids were on one floor while their own kids were on another floor, or in another local school. Teachers who are spouses were on different floors. A very pregnant teacher remained under a chem lab desk for the entire ordeal. Meg, our Athletic Director remained in a closet with two students during the entire ordeal. Everyone was literally ON THE FLOOR  or in a SAFE spot huddled together. Keeping our kids safe.

I would imagine every single person involved in the lock downs had an adrenalin rush the likes of which I cannot fathom as I was home, grateful they were protecting Bella as best they could.

That is what I appreciate. The caring. The protecting. The guidance. People teach because they love to teach. They love the kids. To my knowledge, I don't think there is a basic training course in what to do during a lock down when they are getting their teaching certificate.

So rather than whine about how much information you received, write an email to the person that kept your kids calm. Thank them. I suspect there wasn't enough wine in their homes to calm THEM down last night.

Go over it with your kids. What to do. How to act. Even though I've done this, I honestly don't know HOW I would act. I suspect I would cry. I know I would shake. I might be wishing I was wearing Depends.

Thank you, Corinne Rogulski for keeping Room 234 safe from harm. For holding Bella close to your heart. For remaining calm when you probably wanted to have a breakdown of your own.

xo
You can feel your heart race when you listen to this song.
I imagine it's how the staff of the schools felt.

http://youtu.be/PCS2UWEWsys
16 Comments
Kelley Kertelits
10/29/2014 03:25:05 am

thanks Maggie for the very sane comment on a very insane situation. And I would like to thank Mr. Rogulski for holding what JT thought was a pair of pliers or scissors the whole time ready to protect my son and the others with him in any way he could

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 11:47:11 am

Kelley,
I sent this to Corinne.
The staff was astounding.
xo

Reply
Rosemary Boyle Lasher link
10/29/2014 05:47:11 am

Maggie this was beautifully written and incredibly well put. Thank you. It helped me to read it again today!

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 11:47:53 am

Thank you Rosemary.
xo

Reply
Janet
10/29/2014 10:47:38 am

I finally had a chance to write an email to Mr Pearlman. Meg felt so safe in his room. She said he sat near the door while the kids were in their safe spots. When Mr.Mackin opened the door to tell them it was hanging to hold in place, Mr Perlman was ready to take him down. If you don't know Mr Pearlman, I'll just say he's quite a gym rat.

Anyway, minutes after I sent that email there was a message about today's lockdown. Unbelievable.

We will surpass this

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 11:49:30 am

I am certain Scott appreciated the email. And since it was the same time today, did he have Meg again? The stress level of the staff has to be off the hook.
xo

Reply
Lori Fraternale
10/29/2014 11:37:18 am

BRAVO Maggie, PERFECTLY stated. I am sooo sick of the bad mouthing of our district on facebook. They have done an amazing job at making our children their first priority. I don't understand why people can't just trust in the system and let them do their job.

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 11:51:34 am

Lori,
It's fear. It's gut feelings. It's a parents right to protect their kids, and since we are out of the loop except through the channels that are in place, people get crazed.
Bless you, a teacher who would do the same as ours.
xo

Reply
Carla Simon
10/29/2014 11:56:28 am

AMEN Maggie xoxoxo prayers and thoughts are with our Hen Hud Family. Thinking of all of you.

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 12:08:11 pm

Thanks Carla. I hope you are warm and safe and wonderful.
xo

Reply
Heather McGowan
10/29/2014 12:19:04 pm

Thank You for the positive comments Mrs. Pinque!

The kids and the entire staff have all been amazing the last two days.

There is a greal deal of second guessing that can be done from the outside but when you are in that school,the first priority are those students. Our students.

I have to believe that is true of my own boys teachers. Its the only way I can sleep at night.

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 09:23:04 pm

Mrs. Pinque lives on Burke Court. ;-)

I cannot fathom how frightening it is when you are taking care of students while thinking about your own children.

Thank you.
xo

Reply
Robert Porter
10/29/2014 12:51:44 pm

Thank you!!! I have been frustrated with everyone bashing the school. My advise is for people to educate themselves on the policies and procedures so they are a little more comfortable with te process. Unfortunately these things are going to happen.

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
10/29/2014 09:26:29 pm

Robert,

There are only a select few who are bashing.
Alas, they can be loud.
Most of them have been admonished in some way.

Far more are praising the way this was handled.

Each family is going to have to approach this in a way that makes them comfortable. And that's all they can do.

xo

Reply
Marjie Kemper link
11/20/2014 11:25:59 pm

Maggie, I'm late to see this post but so I glad I did. Leslie mentioned it last time I was in... such wise words, and what a great idea to write a note of thanks to the teachers who kept the kids those days. I am going to do that right now, to both of them.

Reply
Maggie ~ TGHR
11/23/2014 12:02:08 am

I am glad you got to it, Marjie! The teachers will be so grateful, I am sure!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Maggie Pinque

    Believer in making dreams come true.
    Intuitive Card Reader.
    Author.  
    Inspirational Speaker. 
    ​Beacon of Optimism.

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2021
    February 2020
    September 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

Picture



Maggie Pinque

Feel free to email me
[email protected]
Picture