Editor: This is an open letter from the Langley Secondary School Parent Advisory Council.
We, the Langley Secondary School (LSS) Parent Advisory Council, would like to thank the RCMP, emergency response workers, Langley School District staff and the Langley Secondary School administration, teachers and support staff for the way they handled the report of a gunman at LSS on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
As parents, not knowing if your children are safe is the worst part of being involved in this type of scenario. During the incident (about three hours long), information provided to us was limited.
We understand this was due to the police officers’ and school administration’s professional limitations during an occurrence of this sort.
While the television images of emergency response team members leaving LSS are surreal, we are thankful they were there.
The authorities’ response to the incident was swift and decisive. They sent a large number of people. From our perspective as parents, we would not have wanted it any other way.
Reportedly the teachers and police were fabulous with the students. Our children felt well supported by the adults in the rooms. In addition, our children described camaraderie between students, and students and adults, that arose while they were involved in this situation.
As well, counselling has now been offered to any student who feels they would like to speak to someone about the incident.
So thanks again to all involved in the LSS lockdown for what you did, and are doing, for our children. On that day you truly lived the Langley School District’s mission of “working together for student success.”
Bruce Northway, president,
Langley Secondary School
Parent Advisory Council
