Scared & need your thoughts -DD is getting notes

[mtblujeans]

My theory is that an older sibling helped write the notes at home, and a classmate put them in the bookbag.

This is what I am thinking, too. Someone who has complained about a situation or a person to a sibling and now they are "having fun"!

 

[MrsPete]

Maybe it depends upon the school district? Or, if you are a new hire? OR, it could be that you are a professional and I am not....just an on-call aide or lunchroom help.

I've been in the same county for 14 years. They do routine police checks every five years (when our teaching licenses expire).

 

[mtblujeans]

To get my teaching license I had to have my fingerprints taken. They were to be sent to the state, not the local district....

Yes, it was my understanding my info was to check on any felony charges or to see if I had served time for felony charges in my lifetime.....but I was unclear as to who it was sent to or who did the checking.

 

[HappyMommy2]

I'm so sorry you are enduring this nightmare.

I'm not sure I wouldn't be on the next plane out of city with DD, if I were in your situation...not that that would solve anything (you can't stay away forever!) but I think my panicky mother instinct would kick in too strongly to stick around. I'll be praying that this is resolved quickly and that it turns out to be the most harmless situation (a sick prank) possible.

 

[MrsPete]

This is what I am thinking, too. Someone who has complained about a situation or a person to a sibling and now they are "having fun"!

You and I are on the same page! I think anyone who'd do this would have to be a little "off", so it could be any little thing that made the classmate angry: the girl having won at a game, having been chosen to be line leader, having had a candy bar for lunch while he had only carrots, anything.

My theory is that the classmate went home angry, mentioned it to the older sibling, and the older sibling "thought up some fun" for the two of them. Again, I teach teens. I know a few who'd imagine this would be great fun, a harmless way to scare the **** out of a little kid, imagining they'd never get caught.

I can totally see it having been concocted in that fashion.

 

[SandiH]

I've been fingerprinted by every school district I've taught for and every child care center I've worked for. In out state - it's a state requirement.

 

[nwdisgal]

Yes. Something's very strange. It seems like adult quotes, but why would someone choose your daughter? Maybe your husband should stay in town until this is all worked out.

Again, I am wondering if someone is angry at your daughter, or if someone is angry with you or your husband and directing the anger at your daughter. I wouldn't rule out people who could be angered with you.

 

[luvmyfam444]

OH MY! I haven't read any of the other posts...but I an say I WOULD BE FREAKED to say the least, I prabably wouldnt' even allow dd to go back to school!!! I would take it to my police dept & treat it as threatening material. Does your school have a resource officer? and on campus cop? Bring it up there. Glad to hear you got the principal involved, but I would definitely go ahead to the local police dept...it's just to scary & I wouldn't want to risk it!

 

[nwdisgal]

I've been fingerprinted by every school district I've taught for and every child care center I've worked for. In out state - it's a state requirement.

That's right. In the state of Washington, anyone who is involved with children as a school employee is finger printed.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I'm a teacher, and I've never been fingerprinted.

WOW that's SCARY!!!! They don't do backgorund checks on you!?!? So any sort of sexual predator could be teaching those kids?!? EEEEKKKK! I've been fingerprinted to wrok in a daycare (teacher), school system (aid), church(teacher) & even to volunteer @ dd's school!

 

[luvmyfam444]

Well, after reading all the posts I'm in agreement with the theory that it's a worker/parent @ the school, someone that would not be questioned when walking down the hall. BUT I'm still baffled by the last 2 notes showing up- HOw come noone saw them? The backpack was obviously left unattended
---was the wording in those notes the same? 1 said die - but is that all it said?
I hopw for goodness sake your dd hasn't read it! I hope she just took it to the teacher w/o opening it.
What kid is gonna have ziplock bags handy? They have to be written @ home or by an adult---not written @ school.
Well, I'll be anxious like averyone else here waiting to see an update, but I'm just afraid that it will all cease, especially if it was from a kid or staff member 'casue once it's brought up to all the 4th/5th graders & staff they all know they are being watched & there will be no way to catch anyone & then the mystery will be unsolved, unless of course a kid is involoved - they will eventually squeal to someone about it - it just could take awhile.

So sorry youre' having to deal with this - I will be up worrying about it with you! AND then thiking about the safety of dd's school....

 

[florida-again]

OP, I was so reluctant to post this as I didn't want to scare you. I'm sure you are already scared enough and handling your situation as you feel best. However, if you feel you might need to be persuaded whether or not to take really drastic action, please google 'Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman'.
I won't post you a link or anything because I don't want to scare-monger, but I wanted to let you know about it so that you can read the potential dangers and be on the most high alert possible.

 

[laurabelle]

I have a dd the same age and I cannot imagine what you are going through...
I haven't read through the whole thread, but I can see you've gotten alot of sound advice.
I'm saying prayers for her protection, the wisdom of all the adults involved to pursue this seriously and that this person is caught today!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Prayers that you get this resolved soon. PLEASE see the police and have them involve the school officials in thier response. The two agencies have to work together on this.

 

[KAMLEM]

What kid is gonna have ziplock bags handy? They have to be written @ home or by an adult---not written @ school.

I don't think she said anything about the notes being in a ziploc bag. They put them into ziploc bags after they were found.

 

[golfgal]

Ok, a bit on the fingerprinting-it all depends on how they do the fingerprinting. At our schools all faculty, staff and volunteers have to be fingerprinted. The run the fingerprints in the state of Minnesota. If you have a file somewhere else that isn't networked with MN, they won't have access to that. ALso, not all criminals have been caught and fingerprinted so if this freak has never been fingerprinted for anything criminal, it won't do you any good.

I agree that the backpack should go back to where it was and surveillance put on the backpack.

 

[damo]

According to the Safe Schools Act in Ontario, the police must become involved when there is serious physical threat to a student. The notes with death threats would require their immediate notification. The administration of the school should be well aware of this and I would imagine that the police are now actively involved.

In Ontario, anyone working or volunteering at a school need an up to date police check. Some school boards require fingerprinting for employees but not all.

Since the OP is from Ontario, fingerprints may not be available for everyone that may have passed through the school.

This is a situation that is taken very seriously in Ontario schools. I would imagine that normal protocol is being followed.

 

[ericamanda01]

I wanted to wish you and your DD luck in finding the person who did this. What a terrible thing to do to a child. I hope it all works out.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Please make sure your daughter is under the direct care of an adult you trust at all times! I would go to school with her and sit in the back of the classroom all day, every day until this freak is caught. Better to do way too much than not quite enough.

 

[mrsmom]

In our school system all teachers and any adult that works at school or goes on field trips with the kids have to be fingerprinted. This is so scary and really makes you think. My prayers and thoughts go out to your dd and your family. I hope the police get this fixed soon, But i too would keep my dd home this is too scary for a little kid and your family.


Kim