A Message from Principal Shaun Doffing

This morning’s lockdown was an unexpected situation, but I want to extend my gratitude to our local law enforcement for their quick response. I also want to express gratitude to our students and staff, who responded swiftly and calmly, following our Standard Response Protocol.

The facts shared this morning remain the same. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office directed our school to go into lockdown. Deputies were able to clear the building and found no evidence of a threat. The sheriff’s office notified us that a 911 call had been received that indicated an active shooter threat at Meridian High School, and later were able to identify that the phone call originated from the Seattle area.

During the lockdown, law enforcement officers went classroom to classroom to clear the building. We recognize this experience can be frightening. While we are fortunate there was no threat, and the building was cleared quickly, we want to acknowledge that each of us will have a different reaction to today’s events. If you or your child needs additional support, please reach out to our school.

Today we had additional counseling support on site and will continue to do so tomorrow. Otherwise, tomorrow will be a regular school day. The safety of our students and staff is a top priority and we take it very seriously.

I encourage you to check in with your child this evening. Here are some resources provided by our mental health team.

  1. Listen: Invite your child to share how they’re feeling to create a space for them to process with you.

  2. Ask open-ended questions like, “What was the hardest part of today for you?”

  3. Remember that everyone deals with stress in different ways. It is common for kids to experience mood swings, changes in appetite or sleep for a period of time after stressful events.

  4. Resource for parents: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.