It has become a commonality among high school students to undergo active shooter drills throughout the school year. While schools, like Westwood, are preparing to partake in these drills, Apalachee High School was faced with the actual horrors of a school shooting on September 4th, 2024.
We asked Redhawks their opinions, feelings, and perspectives on this tragic event that occurred in Winder, Georgia. Some Westwood students were concerned about the mental ramifications of Apalachee students due to the traumas attached to such a catastrophic event.
According to a 2016 academic article surrounding the impacts of being involved in a school shooting states,
“These incidents can affect students’ decision about whether to stay at their school, affect their cognitive skills, and influence their behavior at school” (Beland, 2016).
A junior at Westwood, William Lever, verbalized his feeling of sympathy towards all stakeholders in the shooting by stating,
“I know the students feel terrible and I feel a lot for their parents and a lot for their teachers because I know they’re going through a lot.”
Like most students and teachers, Westwood inhabitants feel worried about their safety due to the increase in school shootings especially in high school environments.
Both Student Body Vice President, Alyssa Williams, and Westwood counselor, Xzavier Spann, go into their anxieties and fears revolving around school shootings.
When speaking on the harsh realities of school shootings Alyssa states, “…it makes me realize that those things can happen anywhere when you least expect it… it makes me nervous.”
Additionally, Mr. Spann explains that “…it [school shootings] is one of my biggest fears as an educator to ever be in that situation.”
While this fatal incident instilled fear and increased Westwood’s sympathy towards the Apalachee community, it also sparked a surplus of gratitude towards the safety precautions in place at Westwood.
Although comments from officers and security guards were denied due to the shooting still being investigated, Redhawks showed immense amounts of gratitude towards our security staff at Westwood.
In regards to our security systems in place at Westwood Alyssa states, “It makes me feel grateful that we have those safety precautions in place.”
Westwood principal, Tameka Nicholson, provided a vast amount of information and details concerning the security programs at Westwood that ensure Redhawks’ security daily. Ms. Nicholson describes the resources teachers, administrators, and staff at Westwood are equipped with to secure the safety of Westwood High School.
“I feel secure because I know that as a district a lot is being done to make sure that campuses remain safe and more importantly as a school we’re following all of the measures and procedures to keep our campus safe,” Ms Nicholson explains.
One of the many systems in place that are exclusive to Richland 2 is the teacher crisis badges that Ms. Nicholson explains serve the purpose of “alter[ing] and lock[ing] the campus down and then our SROs are automatically triggered so they know exactly where to go to find the person who is violating our school safety and security.”
However, as a principal, Ms. Nicholoson emphasizes that the educator’s effort to ensure student safety may not be the solution because she states, “… the real issue is access…”
In her closing remarks, Ms. Nicholoson voices that as an education system, it is essential to “…address the access that students have to weapons within our community that’s the real issue.”
In closing, the students and staff at Westwood are extremely sympathetic and feel emotional compassion towards the families and community of Georgia. Additionally, Westwood is appreciative of any and all safety precautions in place at the Castle. With the help of teachers, administrators, and students Westwood High School is on the pathway to confirm the safety of our community at Westwood.
