December 16, 2021
Dear Families,
Deer Park School has become aware of a troubling national post that has been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety on Friday, December 17 “for every school in the USA, even elementary.”
The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district or valley. We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.
Out of an abundance of caution, many districts in the valley and throughout the state are informing parents of this information. We have been in contact with districts throughout the valley and the police are aware of this situation.
This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress, anxiety, and disruption for our schools, students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper online behavior.
These types of alarming social media posts and cyber threats are unfortunately becoming more common. Regardless, we will continue to address all reports, we will respond appropriately, we will follow our established safety plans, and we will follow protocols.
If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Sheri Modderman
Superintendent/Principal
Deer Park School