Sherwood High School students are taking their school safety advocacy beyond campus and onto Capitol Hill.
Leaders of Sherwood’s MOSS club, Make Our Schools Safe, spent a day last week meeting with lawmakers to advocate for Alyssa’s Law, legislation designed to reduce emergency response times during school crises. The student leaders included senior Hector Morales and juniors Jeremy Petrash and Claire Strosnider, who traveled to Washington, D.C. to share the importance of the proposal and the student perspective on school safety. The club is sponsored by Sherwood teacher Michele Bloom.
Alyssa’s Law is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The law focuses on implementing panic alert systems in schools that can instantly notify law enforcement and 911 during emergencies. These systems can take several forms, including mobile apps, wearable devices, or hardwired panic buttons, and can be used not only in active threat situations but also during medical emergencies.
So far, Alyssa’s Law has been passed in 10 states and is under consideration in 16 others. Maryland is not currently among them. Sherwood High School is the only school in Maryland with an active MOSS club. The on-campus student organization is focused on creating a culture of safety by empowering students to think proactively about emergency preparedness and school security. The club’s leaders hope their advocacy and visibility will encourage other schools to start similar groups.
Make Our Schools Safe is a national nonprofit founded by Alyssa’s parents, Lori and Ilan Alhadeff, in the aftermath of the Parkland tragedy. The organization works to educate students and staff, promote emergency preparedness, and strengthen school safety practices so classrooms can remain places of learning rather than fear. Its school-based clubs are designed to give students a voice and an active role in shaping safer environments.
Sherwood’s students say their goal is simple: to turn awareness into action and inspire more schools across Maryland to prioritize safety and preparedness through student-led efforts.
