On Wednesday, Dec. 10, all CHS students participated in an active shooter drill in their homeroom classes. Just two days earlier, the administration required teachers to show their fourth period classes a video that demonstrated how to handle an active shooter on campus. The video taught students a technique called Run, Hide, Fight. This video instructed students and faculty to first try to evacuate the campus if safe. If evacuation is not possible, students must hide in the classroom away from windows and doors. Before hiding, the teacher and students must ensure that all doors are locked and the lights are off. As a last resort, if an armed person were to get into a classroom, students should fight back with whatever weapons available in the classroom.

The students saw this video after the CHS administration received training demonstrating the Run, Hide, Fight principle, and multiple students requested to have an active shooter drill. CHS practices fire drills throughout the year, although school fires rates have declined significantly since the 1950s according to Lauren Young, Assistant Principal of Athletics. Active shooters have become more common in recent years, but up until recently, CHS never had a drill for possible shooters.

“I think that students see a lot of violence through video games and movies, and this struck an emotional cord as [a school shooting] is something that could happen to them while they are on campus,” said Young. “I knew there would be some strong emotional reactions, which is why we had the counselors on call for students to talk about their feelings.”

Administration finds treating students like adults very important in serious situations such as the possibility of a school shooting. Faculty members believe that students need to know how to respond if an active shooter were to enter the school campus. Counselors supplied support for students who responded to the drill emotionally. After experiencing this drill, students also believe that they are becoming better prepared for this type of emergency.

“I hope that students are able to take away that [CHS] is here to make sure they are in a safe environment, and we practice drills to prepare them for [an active shooter on campus],” said Young.