Code red threat demonstrated extraordinary school safety, care, and caution
Students huddle together for safety after a ‘code red’ alert was issued. With the doors locked and lights off, teachers strive to keep students calm and safe until further notice. “It was definitely scary and having to stay in a tiny room with 30 students didn’t make it any better,” senior Sarah Reagan commented. Students’ fears were alleviated when Dr. Page came on the announcements to alert any new developments. his calming voice kept the school from panic.
October 16, 2014
North Cobb experienced a code red, causing fear to arise among staff and students on Thursday, October 9.
Principal Dr. Page later revealed that no threat had actually entered school grounds, but a large amount of police and SWAT activity nearby caused the lockdown to happen.
“It was really scary, but I think North Cobb did a great job keeping people calm and following procedure,” senior Catherine Lamb stated.
North Cobb handled the situation excellently. Administrators stayed on high alert, teachers rounded students up for safety, and the entire school fell into an eerie silence as the Warrior Nation waited for the code red to lift. Eventually, the code red became a code yellow since North Cobb experienced no direct threat.
“At first, you wonder if this is really happening. But then you have to make sure that all your kids are safe and you do anything that ensures their protection. Even though the Code Red we experienced was not a drill, I don’t think some kids understand the severity of it, which can make it harder to protect them. But our administration handled the situation well and I knew that we were going to be safe, no matter what,” orchestra teacher Dr. K said.
North Cobb’s administration aided in keeping students out of the hallways and supplying teachers and staff with information. Since the code yellow extended to lunch time, administrators helped transport students into and out of the lunchroom safely so students could eat. They created a safe and calm environment and contacted families, letting them know that their children were out of harm’s way.
Parent volunteer Angela Marie experienced the concern of a parent, but maintained her administrative duties during the entire situation.
“Several parents were calling and asking if there was a shooting at the school. But I quickly squashed that rumor and insisted that their students were safe, since nothing was happening in the school. I was concerned at first since I could not contact my daughter, but since I was in the office and knew everything was fine, I focused on comforting other parents and destroying any false rumors. As a parent, situations like this can be extremely stressful, but students were completely safe; there was nothing going on in the school, and we made sure of that,” Marie explained.
North Cobb definitely showcased its ability to handle any situation with grace. Students and staff are prepared for any future situations and have the right to boast about how the Warrior Nation handled this stressful event.
