Heavy Heart

Looking back on the past few weeks, I am not really sure how we have stayed so positive.  I am sure it comes down to family and friends.  We are all so blessed to have such loving people in our lives!

For those of us at Sacajawea, it all started a week ago from last Thursday.  During lunch, we went into lockdown.  It was precautionary, but there was a very angry parent trying to get in our school.  It was a long 2 hours with very little information.  Looking back on it, the kids and staff handled it with grace!  My first graders were split between the cafeteria and playground when I heard an announcement to secure the playground.  Of course, we all jumped up from our lunches and quickly ran to our kids and shuffled them into the cafeteria!  Once everyone was off the playground, we had 8 classes in the cafeteria! We were there on secure lock down for about forty-five minutes. We then moved into modified lockdown which means you can now move throughout the building, but no one is allowed to come or go. It is amazing how well teachers and staff can pull it together and keep it calm when in crisis!

A few short days later, the shooting at Clackamas took place. It's just crazy how close to home this is. I typically meet a friend for lunch here and will occasionally stroll through the mall. It's not very often, but often enough!

Then the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting took place. I found out about this while I was with my students in library. I immediately thought of my cousins in Connecticut. Fortunately, it was not their school. However, they know families that have been impacted. It just saddens and shocks me that this could happen in what we strive to keep as one of the safest places for children!!

My prayers and thoughts go out to those families in Newtown, CT.