Dear families, students and staff,

Today we experienced a false alarm based on inaccurate information, similar to the false alarm we experienced in fall of 2022, for those who were in attendance or working at Sehome at that time.

Regardless of whether they ultimately turn out to be false, I know how frightening these safety protocols are and I thank you. I wanted folks to hear from me as soon as possible about what happened to our community this afternoon.

At around 1:50 the police department received a 911 call that referred to a possible weapon at a school. The caller believed this school was Sehome. We have now determined that this was inaccurate and false information.

The police have to take these calls seriously. BPD came immediately to Sehome and the school went into lockdown at around 1:53.

The police followed their training and checked our building. Students and staff being in lockdown during this time allowed them to do their job. They determined that the call was false and inaccurate.

At around 2:15 we updated our safety protocol from a Lockdown to a Hold, and then we released each class one at a time. This also allowed us to connect with each class and see who needed additional support.

I shared much of this information with our school over the intercom, sharing how much we care about students and their safety. I reminded them that help is available in the counseling center and that there are quiet spaces available if needed.

Sports practices will be held as normal today, but no athletes will be penalized for not attending.

I thank our first responders from BPD and Western’s university police for their quick response and collaboration.

Families, please remind your Sehome students that anyone in our community can anonymously share safety concerns via our safety tip line by calling or texting 844-310-9560 or visiting bellinghamschools.org/safe  

We also know that this situation may bring up the fears we all have for our children’s safety. We love our students, and their safety is our highest priority. If you know a student in need of support or help, here are some resources available for students and families:

•    Encourage them to visit with a school counselor or speak with another adult they trust at school.
•    Take time as a family to talk about handling stressful events. Our family resource page has tips that may help get the conversation started.
•    Visit our district resources for mental health and wellness, an extensive list of school- and community-based resources for students and families.
•    Learn more about our safety protocols at our safety webpage.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know needs help or if you have additional questions. I wish everyone in our Mariner family a peaceful and restful weekend.

Sonia Cole, principal