Preparing youth for shootings

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
In an effort to prepare students for the worst possible scenario, Newcastle Elementary School will hold its first TAC*ONE training with elementary-age students. A Jan. 9 letter from Principal Brandy Holmes says that with school safety being a growing concern both locally and nationwide, the school feels it is best to provide some training to the students. 
“This training is related to school safety when it comes to violent situations which may involve an ‘active shooter.’ Our staff have undergone intensive training with TAC*ONE over the last two years,” the letter says. “At this time, we feel it will be beneficial to provide our students with age appropriate training done by security professionals. WCSD#1 has provided this training to our middle and high school students. This will be the first training for elementary students.” 
Weston County School District No. 1 Superintendent Brad LaCroix said that while some threats and situations are more serious than others, students must be prepared for what may come their way.
“It is like teaching them 911, stranger danger, fire drills and to wear their seat belts. These are all things that the children might have to put into play someday,” LaCroix said. “We hope that this never happens, but if it comes up, you want them to know how to go into it.” 
LaCroix said that the training will provide even kindergarten with the tools they need to possess and that these conversations may be awkward but they are necessary lessons. 
“There are going to be some parents that question how do you expose these kids to this, and this has been asked over the last six years, but we realize we probably need to do something. But we don’t want to traumatize the kids either,” LaCroix said. 
According to LaCroix, and mentioned in the letter from Holmes, parents are invited to attend the training with their students. LaCroix said that the training sessions have always been open to parents. The attendance at the middle and high school levels wasn’t great, he said. 
“In this case, we thought it would be a little easier to let parents see firsthand what we are doing and have the ability to ask questions about it,” LaCroix said.
Before the training, he said, parents are encouraged to talk with their children about the upcoming events. 
Holmes said in the letter that other school districts in the state have given this training to elementary students and the school district has had the opportunity to observe the sessions.
“While it can be unnerving to think about young children being exposed to such scary topics, the TAC*ONE staff does a nice job keeping the language, activities and discussion appropriate for young age,” Holmes said. “The feedback from other districts has been positive.” 
The elementary school students will play games addressing whether or not they run or shelter in place in certain situations, LaCroix said. Students at the elementary school will not receive active shooter training, he said. 
Parents or guardians interested in attending the training should contact the school at 746-2717. The training will begin at 8:35 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.