The principals of Malibu public schools sent out messages of reassurance to parents Friday following news that 28 people died at a mass shooting at an elementary school in Newton, Conn., including 20 children ranging from 5 to 10 years old. The shooting took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where a heavily armed gunman reportedly opened fire in a classroom.
“Our hearts are broken today,” President Barack Obama said in a televised address to the country.
An assistant to Sandra Lyon, superintendent for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, said Lyon had instructed district principals to communicate with parents about the tragedy.
In an email to parents Friday, Malibu High School Principal Jerry Block assured parents that students’ safety was his staff’s “number one priority” and that “we have a detailed response plan for lockdowns in the event that it should be necessary.”
Block added that any visitors to MHS should “always be sure to check in with the office to receive a visitor’s badge. If you are on campus and you do not have a clearly visible identification badge, please do not be offended if a staff member directs you back to the office.”
See the letter in its entirety below:
Dear Parents,
By now, you may have heard of the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.
I would first like to take a moment to send our thoughts and prayers to all of the victims of this nightmarish tragedy.
For Malibu High School, I would like to reassure our parents that we have a detailed response plan for lockdowns in the event that it should be necessary. This plan is frequently reviewed and updated not only with Malibu High School staff and faculty, but also with law enforcement professionals.
To anybody visiting Malibu High School, please always be sure to check in with the office to receive a visitor’s badge. If you are on campus and you do not have a clearly visible identification badge, please do not be offended if a staff member directs you back to the office.
Please know that your child’s safety is our number one priority at Malibu High School and that we will take all reasonable precautions to keep students safe.
Sincerely,
Jerry Block
Principal