Safety has always been of the utmost concern for any school. Teachers and administrators have always resolved to monitor the environment for the protection and safety of the students, regardless of grade level, school or district. In the first week of November, that resolve was tested.

Due in part to word of mouth and social media, rumors began to fly around the campus. There were rumors of an organized riot happening on Friday, Nov. 8. However, the event that would set this supposed riot off was unclear amongst the student body.

“I think it started off as a joke and then just spiraled out of control,” senior Jessica Rios said. “Some of the kids were doing it to cause a scene, and they did. The parents were scared because we have had some events in the past few years.”

There was also an incorrect assumption going around that lead many students to believe that if more than nine fights were to happen on campus, school would be dismissed.

“During [that] week we had an altercation between two students on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,” principal Patricia McClure stated in a letter sent to parents. “Based on the facts of each case, all five incidents appear to be totally unrelated.”

The atmosphere in the school that Friday could be clearly felt. Many parents even signed their children out for the day based on their concerns.

“I talked to my mom about what was supposed to happen and she came and picked me up,” sophomore Kory Blue said. “I wasn’t the only one, the entire front office was full and there were parents waiting outside. There was a lot of people!”

There were approximately 400 students pulled from school. However, many of the brave Panthers on campus remained, trusting the administrators to handle the issue, which they did.

“My parents were scared but I didn’t tell them until I got home because I didn’t think anything was going to happen,” Rios said.

These concerns were, in fact, unfounded. Even with the validity of the rumors being called into question, measures were enacted to further guarantee student and faculty safety.

“As a staff, we took proactive measures to ensure everyone’s safety, which included increased administrative and teacher presence in the halls as well as precautionary increased police presence,” assistant principal Howard Camardelle said.

Despite the increased security measures, there were still rumors of weapons being brought to school. More rumors, coincidentally spread by social media, included reports that students would be carrying knives and even guns.

“There was a rumor that a student saw a handgun, but when the student was addressed, the student said she did not see a handgun, she saw a duct-taped stick,” principal McClure said.

Just as they always have, the administrators here at the Creek took every possible step to ensure the safety of the students. This also includes future measures to solidify campus security. One of these measures includes random metal detector walk troughs and baggage check lines (manned by faculty). Thankfully, no guns or knives have been found.

“The safety of our students and staff is our first and highest priority,” principal McClure said. “We have great students at CCHS, and with your assistance, we can continue to provide our students a quality education in a safe environment.”

Campus administrators will continue to remain vigilant in assuring the safety of Caney Creek High School.