Schools

SPHS to Undergo Emergency Drill Tuesday

The drill, which was scheduled prior to Friday's events in Connecticut, focuses on an armed and dangerous intruder in the building.

Students at Severna Park High School will undergo an emergency drill on Tuesday that deals with an armed and dangerous intruder in the building. However, the drill is unrelated to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday.

"All of our schools have to do [an emergency] drill five times a year,” Anne Arundel County Schools Spokesman Bob Mosier said. “They are designated months they do the drill in and December’s drill, coincidentally enough, is an active shooter in the school.”

Mosier clarified that this drill is not because of the shooting in Connecticut on Friday.

Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“There is absolutely no connection between the subject of the drill and Friday’s events,” Mosier said.

However, due to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, that killed 26 people, including 20 children, Severna Park High School principal Patrick Bathras sent a email to parents informing them of the drill.

Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the letter Bathras also mentioned that the topic and date of the drill was determined before Friday’s school shooting. Both Bathras and Mosier reiterated that there will not be anyone simulating the role of the shooter during the drill.

“No one portrays the role of the shooter during the drill,” Mosier said. “The drills are used to familiarize students and staff of what should happen in an emergency.”

The following is the email that was sent to parents and to Patch:

Dear SPHS Students and Parents,

I am writing in advance, to let you know that Severna Park High School will be conducting one of our regularly scheduled emergency drills in our school tomorrow (Tuesday, December 18th). The topic and date of this drill, which was determined long before Friday’s school incident in [Newtown], Connecticut, is centered on an armed/dangerous intruder in the building, but I want to assure you that no one will be simulating the role of the intruder. However, given the recent events in Connecticut, I wanted you to have this information ahead of time so you can, if you so choose, discuss it in a manner you deem appropriate with your child. These drills are intended to allow our students and staff to be familiar with what to do in such emergency situations. 

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Mr. Patrick J. Bathras

Principal

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