Follow-up Message sent @ 1:45 PM, 11/20:
Dear Upper Moreland Community,
This message serves as a follow-up to the message sent at 1:00 PM today. The UMPD informed the administration that the police activity has concluded. The area around our elementary and middle school buildings is safe. The “Secure” status has been lifted. People are now permitted to enter and leave the building.
Schools will dismiss normally, and all after-school activities will continue as scheduled.
As noted in the message sent at 1:00 PM, “Secure” ensures no students and staff are outside of our schools and all exterior doors are secured. No one is permitted to enter or leave the building. The focus is on keeping everyone safe inside our schools and protecting them from any potential threats outside of the building. Throughout the “Secure” status, teachers at the elementary and middle schools continued normal classroom instruction inside the building and monitored their emails for any updates from the building principal. “Secure” is different from a “Lockdown”. In a “Lockdown”, students and staff remain in their classrooms to be protected from a potential threat in the building.
It is likely that your child may have seen or heard police cars on the school campus during the “Secure” status. We recognize that this may be a traumatic experience for some students. If your child asks questions or expresses anxiety, you can contact your school counselor. Our counselors will meet with any students who may need to talk about their questions or concerns.
We thank the Upper Moreland Police Department for their swift action and communication with the district to ensure student and staff safety.
Sue Elliott
Superintendent of Schools
Message sent @ 1:00 PM, 11/20:
Dear Upper Moreland Community,
At approximately 12:20 PM today, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the Upper Moreland Police Department notified the administration about police activity involving K-9s in the vicinity of our elementary and middle school buildings. Out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of UMPD, we have implemented a “Secure” status for the three schools on this campus. A “Secure” ensures no students and staff are outside of our schools and all exterior doors are secured. No one is permitted to enter or leave the building.
All students and staff are safe inside the school. We await further instruction from the UMPD.
We ask that parents and guardians avoid the school campuses until we are provided with an update from UMPD that it is safe to lift the “Secure” status.
We will update the community as soon as we have more information.
Sue Elliott
Superintendent of Schools