Delta school students are reminded to always immediately report any online threats directed toward a specific school or schools in general.
School principals have been advising parents that Safer Schools Together (SST) has notified school districts about the widespread circulation of images and messages containing unsubstantiated social media threats toward schools and/or school districts throughout North America.
While they believe most of the threats are not credible, each threat still needs to be taken seriously and assessed, noted Mark Robinson, principal of Seaquam Secondary.
“As a school community, this is an opportunity to talk to with your child about reporting (and not reposting) concerning online content to a trusted adult. Please also remind your child of the anonymous reporting tool available: https://erasereportit.gov.bc.ca/ We thank you for your continued support in monitoring what your child engages with on social media platforms.
Safety is paramount for all of the student and families. We have consistently told students at Seaquam if they see something, say something. Please reach out to me if you have any concerns or know of any credible safety concerns,” wrote Robinson in an email sent Wednesday evening.
In a follow-up email Thursday, Robinson clarified no schools in Delta, including Seaquam, have received a specific threat.
Cathryn Tucker, Director of Communications for the Delta School District, reiterated that message, telling the Optimist that no schools in Delta have received a threat. Provincial authorities have shared with the district that the origin of the social media posts is most likely the United States.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are sharing that these types of posts are circulating. It is a reminder that should anyone receive any such messaging, they should call the police and share it with their school administration immediately,” said Tucker in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Delta Police Department (DPD) noted they are working reinforcing the school district’s message. On Facebook, the DPD had a series of reminders including encouraging responsible social media use, including people talking with their friends about the importance of not spreading unverified claims.
Earlier this year, parents of Seaquam were notified in advance of an upcoming police presence for a lockdown and a hold and secure drill at the school, aimed at providing valuable training in active threat response procedures.
The school district at the time noted while the incidents of threatening behaviors in Delta schools are extremely low, it is hoped that parents and students find the knowledge of the procedures reassuring.
