THUNDER BAY - It has been one month since Hammarskjold High School was forced to close for the 12th time this academic year due to a threat received by police directed at the north side school. In that time, students say not only have things returned to normal, it almost feels better.
“I think maybe because we came from such a sad, dark place that finally normal almost feels better than what it used to be,” said Grade 11 student Adam Luoma. “The school feels even better than it’s ever been.”
“The first week was a little different, but as time has gone on everything is normal, all classes are normal, teachers are back into the routine of things, and I feel like nothing has really happened at this point.”
Even if everything feels back normal again, the ongoing threats against the school has had a profound impact and the effects are still being felt by some.
Just last month, students often went to school only to be sent home again after another threat was received. There were weeks when the school would be closed for several days straight. The threats came to an end when two Hammarskjold students were arrested and charged.
Teacher Jen Smith said staff are still dealing with some residual fallout from the threats among students on an individual basis.
“Some kids are just a little bit slow to get back on their feet, whether it’s academically or emotionally,” she said. “For the most part I think kids are happy to be back in school, playing sports, having a regular school day and hanging out with their friends.”
“Missing 12 days has been difficult and most students I have talked to have felt that they are feeling a lot better, getting caught up, midterm marks are now in, and we have processed information that goes on to college and university,” added Hammarskjold Principal Derek Di Blasio. “I think we are getting back to a sense of normalcy. As each day passes it gets even better.”
For students who are still struggling, Smith said supports are in place, such as academic tutors and mental health counsellors, and a Power Hour held every day in the Four Directions room for students needing extra help.
Graduating students were particularly concerned about how the closures could affect applications to post-secondary studies, but Smith said these students were a high priority for staff to make sure they were properly set up for next year.
Grade 12 student, Emily Prpic, said she was already set for post-secondary studies next year when the threats were taking place, but she recognizes the hard work of the staff.
“Guidance and administration has been working really hard to make sure we could meet all of our deadlines for university acceptance, so I had no issues there, and I don’t think any of my peers did as well,” she said. “They were really good making sure everything was done on time.”
The threats, while a difficult and trying time for the students and staff, has resulted in some positive outcomes. Di Blasio said they have undertaken reviews of policies and practices as it relates to lockdowns, hold and secure, and stay in place procedures, as well as increasing building security by locking more external doors and supporting the camera system for more visibility in and around the school.
“It’s good for us,” he said. “Unfortunately we went through that to get to that point, but we’ve made significant improvements and revisions to lots of policies and procedures around school safety.”
Perhaps the most positive thing to come from the situation was the ongoing support the students received and continue to receive from the school and the community.
Staff raised $1,000 for Hammarskjold students through the sale of Hamm Family T-shirts. Smith said the Board has been very generous in funding tutors to help students struggling academically and the money raised by teachers will be used to support students in other ways.
“This funding will look at potentially in the future maybe bringing in a guest speaker who can talk to resiliency, stress management, things that would assist them in the future regardless of the situation,” she said.
Resiliency appears to be something the students have always had but the ongoing support from the school and community made sure no one felt like they were going through the situation alone.
“It was huge,” Prpic said. “Hearing everyone’s support and how much everyone cared about us as students, it felt incredible to know how many people we had standing behind us. It just felt so much better going through that as students here.”
