Two incidents of fake/replica firearms being brought to schools have led to a strict response from the Quesnel School District (SD28).
On Thursday, October 2, a student is reported to have brought a replica gun onto a school bus. SD28 reports that all students and staff were safe.
“For us, this behaviour is unacceptable and it’s being taken very seriously,” says SD28 Superintendent Dan Lowndes.
“We are asking parents and guardians to speak with their children about the seriousness of bringing replica weapons of any kind onto any school property. These items do create unnecessary fear, pose safety risks, and they just won’t be tolerated in our schools.”
This is the second incident in eight days involving a student bringing what turned out to be a replica firearm onto an SD28 property. The first incident was on September 24.
SD28 and Superintendent Lowndes were unable to comment on the process it takes with the students, or the potential consequences the students could face.
In a statement on social media, SD28 said that as Halloween is approaching, it will emphasize the importance of keeping replica weapons or props at home to ensure the well-being of students and staff.
“We are taking a very strong stance on this,” says Lowndes. “We need to work as partners with parents, more than simply having a conversation with their children. Even a quick look in the backpack would be super helpful to catch a replica weapon before it reaches the school.”
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