Falcons,
I would like to first start off by saying that I am extremely grateful to our students and our parents for always reaching out to us if there are any causes for alarm. As part of our ongoing effort to keep an open line of communication with our parents, I would like to take a moment to share information with you.
Early this morning a student on a bus saw a picture of a weapon, apparently on social media. The student became alarmed and initially reported that there was an actual weapon on the bus. The student realized it was just a picture of a weapon and amended their report.
This same picture appeared on social media yesterday, was investigated by the Dearborn police and resolved. There was no weapon on the bus and no threat as a result of this report.
The School Resource Officer was at Stout as he is usually and other officers responded immediately to the situation as well.
Teachers and support staff are on site to support students who may be concerned and upset.
The very tragic and sad events that occured at Oxford High School have deeply affected all of us. We struggle to find words that explain such a senseless act of violence. Our school has many resources available to our students who may be struggling with these emotions and I want to make sure that our parents and students know we are here to help. If students need someone to talk to they can ask for assistance from any teacher, counselor, support staff or go directly to the office to receive support. There are also resources available online to help parents talk to their children about these types of very tragic situations. Here is a link to a document that provides parents with helpful tips on talking to your child about traumatic experiences.
I would like to thank Chief Haddad and all of the incredible police officers who worked tirelessly to resolve this issue in a timely manner. Their dedication to the safety of our school and our community is to be commended. Again, I also want to thank our parents and students for coming forward, stepping up, and sharing information with me and other administrators. Please continue to talk with your child about the importance of sharing information with a trusted adult.
Working together, and keeping an open dialogue with each other will ensure that we keep Stout Middle School a safe school for all.
Hebat Abdelbaki
Principal
Stout Middle School