Shelter in Place Update

May 10, 2019

Dear Garfield Families,

Today, at approximately 3:20 p.m., the Seattle Police Department (SPD) contacted our school due to “shots fired” nearby. In an abundance of caution, we were advised to go into a “shelter in place” until the threat was cleared. We immediately followed their directions. As a precautionary measure, SPD held us in shelter in place until 3:50 p.m. when we were told we were all clear to leave. SPD reported that the school and our students were not targeted.

We take safety in and around our buildings very seriously; the well-being of our students is our top concern. I am proud of how our students and faculty responded to this incident. We will continue to work the East Precinct and the district’s Safety and Security Office to ensure we continue to respond appropriately.

Our faculty will continue to discuss personal safety with students if they share concerns. One of our goals is to allow students to talk about their concerns and support them in personal safety skill development, including social media.

Please know that we remain committed to doing everything we can to keep our students safe.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ted Howard

Principal

Garfield High School