FCA staff offers advice after Norwalk school lockdowns

NORWALK — Searching the empty hallways for an open door. Huddling in the corner of a dark classroom. Hoping a sibling in another part of the school is safe.

The stress and anxiety that students and staff at Norwalk High School experienced over the past week due to multiple threats, an evacuation and two lockdowns will likely stick with them longer than it took for the Norwalk Police Department to find the individual responsible for all of it.

“It is very difficult to get on with the business of teaching and learning in the aftermath of such an event,” said Mary Yordon, president of the Norwalk Federation of Teachers. “Three times in less than a week is overwhelming for all involved — staff, students and families.”

Students and staff at Norwalk High and P-TECH Norwalk took a bit of a timeout on Monday to talk about their experience during the first two threats that occurred the week before. Senior Olivia Mattera, 18, said teachers didn’t give much work and everyone could focus more on their social and emotional well-being.

“We realized we’re all going through the same. It was nice to just talk,” Mattera said.

Additional counselors were brought in for emotional support, and Principal Reginald Roberts addressed the whole student body via a livestream message to say he had their backs, according to Mattera.

The senior class president was in the cafeteria when the first lockdown occurred on Dec. 3. She said, “every single protocol was followed, and everyone was following the rules.”

“Every single time there’s a lockdown, you go into a panic. It’s an intense state,” Mattera said. “The staff did an amazing job, making sure we all felt safe. I can’t think they could have done anything better.”

One P-TECH student was locked out of her classroom when the lockdown occurred on Wednesday because she had been in the bathroom, according to her parent. Before she and another student found a classroom whose teacher hadn’t yet closed his door, the student texted her parent to ask what to do.

“I said just be calm and if there’s an actual emergency just duck down and get behind something,” said the parent, who asked that their name be withheld. “If not just try and find an open door. Worst-case scenario find a front door and leave.”

Mattera said some students have been nervous to leave the classroom except to switch classes for fear they’ll find themselves in the same situation as their P-TECH peer.

Parents and teachers may notice certain behavioral changes from their children and students due to the anxiety of the past week’s events, according to Xanic Wood, a mental health care provider and manager of the IICAPS program at the Family & Children’s Agency in Norwalk.

Kids may struggle to pay attention or show signs of irritability or defiance. Their sleep patterns or eating habits may change as well, she said. They may also feel reluctant to go to school until they feel school is safe again, even though a person has been arrested.

“Kids don’t snap back into it. ‘Great, he’s been caught. I can go to school no problem.’ There may be emotional and/or behavioral responses that parents and teachers will see for a little while,” Wood said.

Parents and teachers face the challenge of reinforcing for kids that school can be safe, and it is a place for learning and education. Wood called it a “valid feeling” for students and staff to believe school isn’t safe right now.

“One important thing to point out … is the response from administrators and law enforcement was not to scare them or not to provide confusing information, but they’re there to protect them,” Wood said.