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Louis Didio
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As a 1982 graduate from I.C. Norcom High School, we, as a school of "one" never once had this happen to our fellow students. I recall the great principal Mr. Edwards who would, in an instant call all of his students to the auditorium to hold an assembly. One that was provoked by fighting, to lecture everyone about the bad that has happened. And through those lectures, of discipline, now and always will ring in my ears, his voice, "You know who you are!".Why we are here as "one" body to represent our school. And most of all, represent ourselves, respectfully. Now, as an old man (HAH,HAH) in what I now have come to respect as the most valued learning experience of my life. I can only pray that one day us Greyhounds can come out of the wood work, reach out to some of these kids any pass on Mr. Edwards value, "YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!". I really do feel his love when I hear of any problem from any school. Another neat voice also comes to my heart from his secretary, she would say, "would Ms. Williamson please come to the office?". That one is a secret only a Greyhound would know. God Bless all who wear maroon and gray.
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What
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What the hell are you babbling about?
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loner14
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As a sophmore of wbhs, friday was totally not normal day, there was hardly anybody in the hallways after 1st block when we were swiching classes and there was hardly anybody in class. Everyone who decided to go to school were scared for their lives and those of their friends. Going back to school monday wont be the same anymore and I feel that the school will never be safe again. There's no way it can be if people are bring guns and knives to school for revenge of their gang leader. If they ever really want to kill people at school then there's nobody who can stop them, they'll find a way to succeed at any cost.
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BUBA
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Disrupt the whole school because some home boy couldnt leave his gun home from school. I hope they arrest the jerks making the threats and I really hope that this ends now!!! Our NON GANG KIDS do not deserve to be put threw this crap!!
Parent s STEP UP NOW BEFORE IT IS TO LATE!!
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wbhs student
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As a senior, I disagree with the above comment. I felt ver safe today and have full faith in my administration, and in my fellow students. It is okay to be scared; however, to state that "the school will never be safe again" is hyperbolic to say the least. As with any large body of people, there will be a few troublemakers, but luckily they do not prevail and this school is safe. No student that I know of was "scared for their lives" while in the building and the majority of those who skipped (and could drive) did so because it was a nice day and wanted to go to the beach. Again, I have faith in the administration to keep us safe and my fellow students to act responsibly.
Thank you for your time,
WBHS Senior
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UOO1434
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Ok, let me try and clear some of this up. There is a gang that has formed in duneiden that calls themselves "young money." This havoc can be attributed to them. As you know Antonio Atkins was arrested two weeks ago for bringing a loaded .22 to school. The admin found out about this because another student notified them. So today the members of YM made threats that they were going to kill the student who notified admin. Young money has become a major problem for the western branch area and especially the officers at the 4th precinct. Just take a look at all the members who stand on Clover and Bangor everyday in green and white. They should be taken seriously because they already have a couple murders and armed robberies in which they are connected with. Police are working on getting them classified as a gang to make basically any crime they commit a felony.
Just be alert and everyone needs to stop blowing gangs off around here... gangs are becoming a major problem.
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Ashley
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I completely disagree with the above WBHS student. I too am a senior at WBHS and I spoke to many fellow students Thursday night and they all felt very scared for their lives. School is not that important to possibly risk your life just to go to class, especially when rumors like that were going around. Everyone was taking it very seriously and it was not treated as some senior skip day.
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relocated Californian
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It would take a lot of digging but all the phone records in a case such as this are able to be accessed by police. Track down where this started and expell the student directly responsible. There are so many students that really want to make it in this world don't let the bad ones delay them or endanger them in any way.
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relocated Californian
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You're statements make me wonder if you are truly even a student or just someone making light of this very serious situation! If anyone is injured from situations such as this perhaps (heaven forbid) you should be the one since you think we should just go on business as usual. wbhs student wrote: As a senior, I disagree with the above comment. I felt ver safe today and have full faith in my administration, and in my fellow students. It is okay to be scared; however, to state that "the school will never be safe again" is hyperbolic to say the least. As with any large body of people, there will be a few troublemakers, but luckily they do not prevail and this school is safe. No student that I know of was "scared for their lives" while in the building and the majority of those who skipped (and could drive) did so because it was a nice day and wanted to go to the beach. Again, I have faith in the administration to keep us safe and my fellow students to act responsibly.
Thank you for your time,
WBHS Senior
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relocated Californian
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I was not one of you're class alumni but in my senior high school time we also took care of these situations in a similar fashion as you discribe and even though we had our (bad kids) we were able to keep things under control. Persons who acted up were put in continuation school and not mainstreamed if they failed to cooperate there they were expelled! Louis Didio wrote: As a 1982 graduate from I.C. Norcom High School, we, as a school of "one" never once had this happen to our fellow students. I recall the great principal Mr. Edwards who would, in an instant call all of his students to the auditorium to hold an assembly. One that was provoked by fighting, to lecture everyone about the bad that has happened. And through those lectures, of discipline, now and always will ring in my ears, his voice, "You know who you are!".Why we are here as "one" body to represent our school. And most of all, represent ourselves, respectfully. Now, as an old man (HAH,HAH) in what I now have come to respect as the most valued learning experience of my life. I can only pray that one day us Greyhounds can come out of the wood work, reach out to some of these kids any pass on Mr. Edwards value, "YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!". I really do feel his love when I hear of any problem from any school. Another neat voice also comes to my heart from his secretary, she would say, "would Ms. Williamson please come to the office?". That one is a secret only a Greyhound would know. God Bless all who wear maroon and gray.
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WBMom
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relocated Californian wrote: You're statements make me wonder if you are truly even a student or just someone making light of this very serious situation! If anyone is injured from situations such as this perhaps (heaven forbid) you should be the one since you think we should just go on business as usual.
<quoted text> What a very scary, very horrible, very threatening thing you just wrote! I have a freshman and a junior at WBHS who went to school yesterday and reported the same thing as the senior -- the one you think "should be the one" injured! Many, many of the kids who went to school yesterday, including mine, felt safe. Many didn't. Many took advantage either of the situation, the beautiful weather, or their parents' fears, and either stayed home or went home. Everyone I've talked to has a different take on the episode based on their experience, age, background, and perspective, and I expect to hear even more viewpoints in the upcoming days. So why, "Relocated Californian," would you hold this particular student's postng not valid? And why on earth would you wish harm on someone whose experience and viewpoint is not what you think it should be? Stay in Chicago, please. I have confidence that the parents, students, civic leagues, neighborhood associations, and churches ofthe e Western Branch area will find a solution to this problem -- and we don't need any more kooks running around who wish violence on those who disagree with them.
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security cameras
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crazy
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Susie
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The same type of incident happened at my daughter's school (Arcadia High School, Oakhall, Va.) on Friday also. A male student had been transfered there from another school and he had made threats the previous day. My daughter didn't mention this to me so I sent her to school. Later she said she just didn't really think nothing of it at the time. But she called me from school Friday morning asking me to pick her up. They had deputies there searching everyone, ect... It is a very scary feeling when you don't feel your child is safe at school.
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JuniorWBHS
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In my opinion, I was at school the whole day, yeah people talked about the threat and yes we had some worried people, but to think you're school is not safe with as much security that we had patrolling the halls is crazy, we were on essential lockdown. In my opinion i enjoyed the day there was not as many people at the school and i felt extremely safe, i had no problem being at school.
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Another WBHS Junior
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First of all: Whoever you are, "relocated Californian" from Chicago, Illinois, you should just take all your bull and go somewhere else with it. Our community doesn't need you or your input to help resolve or look into this situation, especially when you aren't even someone even remotely involved. So seriously, butt out.
I think we all realize that the incident with WBHS on Friday was largely a culmination of threats and rumors. So yes, there will be people whose opinion is that it is 'silly' or 'stupid' to listen to such rumors. But then there are others (those who I like to think of as the level-headed persons) who believe that NO threat of violence in school should be taken lightly.
I am a junior at Western Branch, and have attended Western Branch since the elementary school level. I have always felt safe in our school, without exception. Friday was different, but not because I didn't feel safe. The school just felt emptier, and that was the only way it felt different, whatsoever.
If someone were to tell me that they were worried or scared for their life on Friday, I would respect their viewpoint, but I would think of them as an idiot. Seriously, people....do you even know how many police were there? There were dozens of law enforcement officials there, and you have the audacity to say it is not safe. Absurd.
Also, to whatever students (and, likewise, parents) who are going off and ranting about seeing people in handcuffs -- stop the crap. The police aren't hiding anything, and neither is the administration. You are just attempting to cause commotion, when nothing of substance has happened. Nothing happened in the school Friday except for a lockdown-esque attitude of security throughout the building all day long. Nobody was hurt, nobody was tackled or arrested, nothing happened.
I'm not saying that nothing could have happened, because those rumors very may well have turned out to be something more than just rumors. However, the response of the administration and the local law enforcement was more than substantial to protect our school and its students and teachers.
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WorriedWBmom
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It's ashame that nowadays you have to worry about your kids when you send them to school. Okay there was a threat on Friday but what about every day after that. Whose to say these thugs won't do something without threats. You always hear about this kind of thing happening but when it hits home it really brings on the fear. I worry everyday I send my daughter to school. I try to turn it over to God and say a prayer for her safety and the safety of her friends everyday.Maybe if they would allow prayer and God in schools there wouldn't be as many guns and weapons there.
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JuniorWBHS
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okay i have one last thing to say i agree with the Another WBHS Junior. Besides, every parent, student, or person has no right saying that it was not safe at the school because newsflash you weren't there. The reason you are getting so worked up is the fact you are listening to rumors about stuff that never happened, something that high school is about a bunch of rumors. And to the comment above me there is a separation of church and state so we can't "pray" in school but you can if you want on your own for the moment of silence.
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Concerned Parent
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So are you saying you KNOW for a fact no one was in hand cuffs that day? If you are then YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS. I as a parent saw with MY OWN EYES some one in cuffs. I am glad that you felt safe but you don't know the whole story and it is YOUR Administration and Law inforcement that is keeping it from you and us. The parents and students have a right to know everything no matter how small. WBH didn't even want the media envolved. Once again they were trying to keep something from the parents. When I asked them Friday why the media wasn't there I was told they didn't think the media needed to know. Just like the gun that it took 5 days for us to find out about. WBH is to concerned about their reputation than letting the parents know what exactly what is going on and I think it is time for the parents to let them know we aren't going to sit by and take it any more. If you are interested in getting a group together please respond to this email. Another WBHS Junior wrote: First of all: Whoever you are, "relocated Californian" from Chicago, Illinois, you should just take all your bull and go somewhere else with it. Our community doesn't need you or your input to help resolve or look into this situation, especially when you aren't even someone even remotely involved. So seriously, butt out.
I think we all realize that the incident with WBHS on Friday was largely a culmination of threats and rumors. So yes, there will be people whose opinion is that it is 'silly' or 'stupid' to listen to such rumors. But then there are others (those who I like to think of as the level-headed persons) who believe that NO threat of violence in school should be taken lightly.
I am a junior at Western Branch, and have attended Western Branch since the elementary school level. I have always felt safe in our school, without exception. Friday was different, but not because I didn't feel safe. The school just felt emptier, and that was the only way it felt different, whatsoever.
If someone were to tell me that they were worried or scared for their life on Friday, I would respect their viewpoint, but I would think of them as an idiot. Seriously, people....do you even know how many police were there? There were dozens of law enforcement officials there, and you have the audacity to say it is not safe. Absurd.
Also, to whatever students (and, likewise, parents) who are going off and ranting about seeing people in handcuffs -- stop the crap. The police aren't hiding anything, and neither is the administration. You are just attempting to cause commotion, when nothing of substance has happened. Nothing happened in the school Friday except for a lockdown-esque attitude of security throughout the building all day long. Nobody was hurt, nobody was tackled or arrested, nothing happened.
I'm not saying that nothing could have happened, because those rumors very may well have turned out to be something more than just rumors. However, the response of the administration and the local law enforcement was more than substantial to protect our school and its students and teachers.
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Another WBHS Junior
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Take a look at the situation: Atkins brought the gun to school on that FRIDAY, and the gun was found on his person in the last hour of the day (between 2:30 and 3:30). School was obviously out for Saturday and Sunday, and Monday, also, due to the Teacher Workday. Given this situation, TUESDAY would definitely be the first day that the school could aptly and properly get word out about the incident to all parents. Quit freaking out about the "5 days to notify us parents" crap.[And by the way....Friday to Tuesday is only 4 days.] It was the FIRST day that they could send notification out because it was the first day back at the school.(If you know anything about how the system works at the high school, then you would know that the school administration will send letters home with the kids as soon as possible….NOT report it to the news and let the parents find out like that.) And don’t try to say that they could have let everyone know on that Friday, because they couldn’t do that at all. If they would have tried to notify you then and there (let alone succeeding in getting 2300 letters out within 1 hour of the incident), then they would not have had all the information, and then people like you (who are flipping out over the entirely wrong reasons) would persist on knowing everything in a situation that was still under investigation. Bottom line: Tuesday was the first available day in which students were back in school AND the administration had the specifics and facts about the situation, as well as the first day in which the administration had any appropriate OPPORTUNITY to inform the school’s community. Don't deny it: if they had told the news that Friday and you saw it on the news before getting a letter from the school, you would have freaked out because you had to hear it on the news and never got 'proper notification from the school.' I stand by my administration and, honestly, whether you see it or not (which you won’t), the fact of the matter is that they did it the right way. It might not have been convenient for you, but since the situation was contained and controlled, it would have been unnecessary to send out information until all facts were known. So seriously. There is no reason you should feel misinformed or wronged with that situation Another thing: Concerned Parent wrote: WBH didn't even want the media envolved. Once again they were trying to keep something from the parents. When I asked them Friday why the media wasn't there I was told they didn't think the media needed to know. You don’t get it, do you? The media is an unnecessary middle party. The school thought it best to contact parents directly, and that’s what happened. The school put out letters. These letters went home yesterday (Friday). They weren’t keeping a single thing from any parents. So I don’t know when the media became a necessity for two groups to establish communication, but it certainly isn’t a necessity to have the media involved. As for this comment you made,“Concerned Parent”: Concerned Parent wrote: So are you saying you KNOW for a fact no one was in hand cuffs that day? If you are then YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS. I as a parent saw with MY OWN EYES some one in cuffs. You see, I respect the fact that you may have seen such a thing at our school, and (while I’m not saying, nor did I ever say, I ‘know for a fact it didn’t happen’) the bottom line is this: Sorry, but the police, made up of sworn-in police officers, in conjunction with the administration, made up of people who pour their lives into this school and the school atmosphere, are undeniably MORE CREDIBLE than you. Sorry. Just because you say someone was in handcuffs, does not make it true.
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Another WBHS Junior
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(Continued) Oh, and when you said: Concerned Parent wrote: I am glad that you felt safe but you don't know the whole story and it is YOUR Administration and Law inforcement that is keeping it from you and us. 1. I am fully aware that I do not know the whole story. But neither do you. 2. You see, you are claiming that things are being kept from us. Claiming. Based on your FEELINGS and INFERENCES. While we have the police and school on the other hand assuring us that nothing unordinary happened at the school. It just sounds to me like you are pressing an issue...a null issue that is really not an issue at all.
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Judge it!
