First Day of School. . . Sort of.

We started out today, our first day of school, with an assembly in the gym. This is pretty normal. It's a chance to meet the new teachers, and make sure everyone goes to the right classroom.

Since I'm advising the 7th graders this year, I brought them back to my room after the assembly, and then passed out the schedules. We all high-lighted our own classes, then I took them on a trip around the school, to make sure they knew which classroom was which, and where to go. I don't know if the other teachers do this with the new 7th graders, but it seemed like a good idea.

Following our field trip, we checked all the kids' levels to see where they are, and decided if anyone was behind pace, and set goals to catch them up. This is also pretty normal first day stuff.

During the field trip, I noticed a pile of boxes on my front porch, so during lunch, I went home and put them inside. On my way back to school, I was informed by our village police officer that he was putting the school in a lock down. "Pretty early in the year for lock down drills, but hey, let's get it over with when we're not having real classes." Or so I thought.

We returned to our rooms, and the announcement came over the intercom that we were locking down. If you don't know the steps of a lock-down, here goes:

1) get any kids wandering in the hall into the classroom.

2) Lock the classroom door (by going out in the hallway to use my key), and cover the window.

3) Close all blinds and shut off the lights

4) Line the kids up on the inside wall of the school. If someone shoots through the glass door, the kids will be to far to the side to hit, and if they shoot up through the windows, they'll hit over the kids' heads. 

5) Make sure everyone is there.

6) Wait for the all clear.

Today, however, it didn't come. And it didn't come. And I explained to my 7th graders about Columbine. And about the kid in Saint Mike a couple years ago. Then I read them "Make Way for Ducklings." And still no all clear. 

Then there's a rattle in the lock, and it's the vice principal. Here are the facts as I know them:

-This is not a drill, there is someone in town causing problems.

-Students are not allowed out of the building, until the State Troopers come and fix the problem.

-Even though school is going to be out soon, we can't release the kids until their parents come to get them.

-No one in my room has a cell phone. 

So for now, we are:

Drawing on the board, and playing hangman. 

Sitting quietly, not doing anything, waiting for further instruction.
And making paper airplanes, which the boys have been throwing at each other for at least half an hour now, but they don't seem to mind. Every time one hits me or my desk, it goes in the garbage. They're down to three planes right now.

It is currently 3:25. We've been in lockdown mode since 1pm. School is scheduled to get out at 3:45. Now we wait.

UPDATE: The kids were all allowed to leave when their parents came and got them. The man was apprehended at 5, and is now in Nome. I'd guess county lockup.