LA CROSSE, Wis., (October 25, 2024) – As we shared this morning, we had a safety situation at Central High School today. At approximately 8:40 a.m., a staff member discovered a loaded firearm in a jacket left behind by a student in a classroom. The School Resource Officer was immediately alerted, and the La Crosse Police Department responded promptly. They secured the firearm, located the student, and took the student into custody.
Ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and community is our highest priority. Central High School administration, staff, and the La Crosse Police Department acted quickly, followed established safety protocols, and assessed the building to confirm it was safe for continued instruction.
We recognize that events like this can bring up a variety of emotions and reactions from students, staff, and families. These reactions can include feelings of fear, anxiety, or confusion. It is normal for these feelings to vary and potentially appear as physical symptoms like butterflies in the stomach, trouble sleeping, or difficulty concentrating. These reactions may lessen over time, but it’s important to talk about them openly with trusted adults.
Suggestions for Conversations with Your Child:
To support your child at home, consider asking:
– “What questions or concerns do you have right now?”
– “What would help you feel safer?”
When discussing the incident, please encourage your child to rely on confirmed facts and avoid rumors, which can sometimes heighten fear. Reassure them that safety measures are in place to protect everyone in our school community. If your student needs extra support, our school staff is here to help. Student services staff and administrators will be available in the coming days to provide guidance and support.
Coping Strategies
If your student is feeling anxious or distressed, here are some suggested strategies that may help:
– Take three deep breaths or count to ten to relax.
– Engage in favorite hobbies or activities, such as listening to music or talking with a friend.
– Exercise or go for a walk.
– Reflect on past challenges they’ve managed successfully and use those same coping skills.
– Write a list of supportive people they can talk to or things they are looking forward to.
– Focus on personal goals.
Additional information on how to talk to your child about school safety concerns can be found at this link.
We encourage parents, guardians, and family members to have conversations with our students and empower them to “speak up and speak out ” about information and incidents that impact our school community. Concerned individuals may use our SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT tool – https://speakup.widoj.gov/ to share concerns or contact La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers at 608-784-TIPS. Concerned individuals may also opt to submit concerns and information online at https://www.p3tips.com/459 or download the Crime Stoppers APP P3 to submit a tip via your phone.
School at Central will proceed as planned on Monday. Student services staff will be available at all schools for students who need additional support in the coming days.
Thank you for your partnership in supporting the well-being and safety of our school community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or need further assistance.
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