On Tuesday, Lakelands Park Middle School principal Rose Alvarez sent a letter to the school community regarding a social media threat that was directed towards four students at the school.
In the letter Alvarez states that the school will have increased security that includes the cluster security coordinator and the Gaithersburg Police Department, out of an abundance of caution. The full letter can be seen below, courtesy of FOX5:
“Dear Lakelands Park Middle School Families:
I am writing to inform you about a social media threat directed at four students in our school. As a result of these concerns, we are collaborating with Gaithersburg Police Department (GPD) and MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management. Parents of the four students have been notified of the threat.
Today and for the remainder of the week, I have requested the presence of our cluster security coordinator, GPD and school security. Out of an abundance of caution, we are monitoring the school grounds and facility during the school day. School operations and classes will proceed as normal.
I want to assure you that the safety and security of our students, staff, and parents is our highest priority. Therefore, we responded immediately to this threat and used the support of the police and MCPS security personnel to ensure that our school is safe and ready for students to learn and thrive daily. I also want to reinforce that we expect students to fulfill the expectations of the MCPS Code of Conduct. As such, students who make poor choices that impact the school will receive disciplinary consequences that are appropriate under the MCPS Code of Conduct.
We are committed to the safety and security of our students. I look forward to our continued partnership to ensure that Lakelands Park Middle School is a positive and safe environment for our students to grow and learn. We appreciate your support in speaking to your students about using text messages and social media responsibly, making good decisions in their interactions with their peers, and immediately reporting such incidents to school administration. Do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.”